Stop at home he thought was abandoned lands SC man in jail, cops say. Here’s why

A South Carolina man was recently arrested following a shooting at what he believed to be an abandoned home, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.

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Brandon T. Stukes, a 37-year-old from Bishopville, was charged with breach of peace (high and aggravated in nature), the sheriff’s office said Tuesday in a news release.

The charge stems from a Sept. 9 incident that included a shootout, according to the release.

Investigators believe that Stukes was driving through the Ridgeway area of Fairfield County when he stopped and backed his vehicle into the driveway of a Smallwood Road residence he thought was abandoned, the sheriff’s office said. There was no word about why Stukes stopped at the property.

While there, Stukes was approached by the owner of a nearby property who told him that he was on private property and needed to leave, according to the release.

The two men exchanged words before Stukes returned to his vehicle and began leaving the property, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators determined that as Stukes was leaving, he fired two rounds from his vehicle, according to the release.

Stukes later confessed that he fired the rounds into the air, the sheriff’s office said.

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The owner of the nearby property said that he believed Stukes was shooting at him and responded by firing three rounds in the direction of the departing vehicle, according to the release.

Deputies found fired cartridge casings consistent with the statements provided by the men involved, and an independent witness’s account was consistent with the belief that two shots were fired first, followed by the additional shots, the sheriff’s office said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

On Sept. 11, Stukes surrendered himself at the sheriff’s office, according to the release. A $5,000 bond was posted Sept. 12, court records show.

Stukes is scheduled to return to court Nov. 18, according to judicial records.

No other arrests were reported.

Despite the charge against Stukes, anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-635-4141.