Officials “justified” deadly shooting in December

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – The State Law Enforcement Division has completed its investigation into a fatal shooting that left nearly a dozen police officers on leave and one man dead.

Following a Freedom of Information Act request, the full investigation file was released by SLED.

North Charleston officers responded to the call at the Marathon gas station on Dorchester Road after a store employee was threatened at 10:47 p.m. on December 26.

According to the employee's statement, at around 10:38 p.m., a man later identified as 33-year-old Winston Dunham came into the store to make a purchase. When the employee was given money, he gave him back one of the dollar bills Dunham had given him and asked him to exchange it for another bill. At that point, according to the investigative file, Dunham “became irate.” Dunham then pulled out a single live bullet from a black handgun he had in his jacket. Dunham threw the live bullet at the employee and said the next bullet would go into his head.

North Charleston officers responded to a 911 call about gunshots being heard in the same area at 11:19 p.m. When officers arrived, they found Dunham armed with a handgun. Charleston County officers rendered aid.

Meanwhile, officers had a lengthy conversation with Dunham and attempted to de-escalate the situation.

According to the investigative file, North Charleston police said Dunham pulled out a gun and fired at officers at 12:07 a.m. Charleston County officials said Dunham merely pointed the gun.

A SLED agent's note states: “There was a discrepancy between the incident reports from both agencies as to whether or not Dunham fired.”

At this point, eight North Charleston Police officers and three Charleston County officers fired at Dunham, hitting him.

“NCPD officers and CCSO deputies attempted life-saving measures and requested emergency medical services,” the report states. “CCEMS arrived and assumed patient care of Dunham. CCEMS examination of Dunham revealed that Dunham was unresponsive, not spontaneously breathing, had no palpable radial/carotid pulses, and no heart tones. Due to obvious signs and symptoms of traumatic death, no resuscitation efforts were undertaken by CCEMS. The Charleston County Coroner's Office was notified and responded to the scene.”

According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was five gunshot wounds. Toxicology analysis of Dunham's blood included methamphetamine, delta-9-THC, delta-9-carboxy-THC, 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC and ethanol.

Dunham's criminal history indicated that he was a wanted person with caution, armed and dangerous, and had violent tendencies. Dunham was also listed as a person prohibited from possessing a firearm.

North Charleston Police released the names of the officers involved and when they joined the agency:

• Sgt. Kevin Whitfield – April 1, 2013
• Cpl. Kyle Decedue – September 15, 2014
• Pfc. Christopher Schüßler – March 13, 2017
• Pfc. Juan Estrada – August 14, 2017
• Pfc. Justin Bonnell – August 12, 2019
• Ptl. Justin Whittaker – March 23, 2020
• Ptl. Jonathan Simmons – August 8, 2022
• Ptl. Christopher Hampton – August 22, 2022

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office released the names of officers who also arrived at the scene.

• Sgt. Austin Rissanen (10 years with the agency)
• Deputy Joseph Stokes (seven years with the agency)
• Deputy Stuart Prettel (two years with the agency)

After months of investigation, attorney Scarlett Wilson sent a letter stating that the officers involved were legitimate in their shooting and there was no evidence to support charges against the officers.

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