Charleston Police Department’s Chief of Detectives Tony Hazelett credited an unnamed Charleston concealed carry license holder with stopping the threat following a shooting Wednesday evening. Police say Dennis Butler returned after being lectured about speeding through an apartment complex where kids were playing. He parked his car and began shooting at a graduation party with an AR-15.
A woman among the group of 30 to 40 people saw Butler, 37, in his back seat firing on the group. Instead of running, Hazelett said, she engaged the threat, shooting and killing him.
SHOOTING – First responders tell me one person was shot here at Renaissance Circle.
The person was taken to the hospital. Their condition is unknown.
I’m working to find out if anyone is in custody.
MORE DETAILS TO COME @wchs8fox11 pic.twitter.com/nB7D7sdgRd— Danielle Dindak (@danielledindak) May 26, 2022
Lt. Hazelett said no charges would be filed against the woman, who he said was understandably very shaken up by the ordeal. Butler, on the other hand, had an “extensive” criminal history. As such, he was legally prohibited from owning, handling or carrying any firearm.
Several times in yesterday’s press conference, the Chief of Detectives credited that regular citizen who had a lawfully-carried firearm with saving lives because she didn’t run, but instead chose to engage and take out the threat.
Police said a woman who was lawfully carrying a pistol shot and killed a man who began shooting at a crowd of people Wednesday night in Charleston.
Dennis Butler was killed after allegedly shooting at dozens of people attending a graduation party Wednesday near the Vista View Apartment complex. No injuries were reported from those at the party.
Investigators said Butler was warned about speeding in the area with children present before he left. He later returned with an AR-15-style firearm and began firing into the crowd before he was shot and killed.
“Instead of running from the threat, she engaged with the threat and saved several lives last night,” Charleston Police Department Chief of Detectives Tony Hazelett said.
A good woman with a gun stopped a bad person with evil in his heart and a gun in his hand. She didn’t wait 40 minutes or more for police to arrive and stage before taking action. She drew her firearm and stopped the threat with decisive accuracy while under fire.
With an extensive criminal record, Mr. Butler apparently thought he could continue to reoffend with impunity. Little did he know this particular Little Red Riding Hood had a little something on her hip in case a big, bad wolf came around.
