Shots fired lead to hoax kidnapping, one dead snake | News

Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call in reference to a kidnapping and shots being fired in the area, just to find out that all the commotion was over a snake being discovered behind a home.

According to the report, dispatch received a call from a neighbor around 5:30p.m., on July 15, stating that screams and several shots were heard coming from a nearby residence.

While officer were en route to the scene, deputies say a second caller contacted dispatch about the situation. Deputies say the second caller advised them the gunman was not allowing anyone to leave and if authorities showed up he would shoot them.

Upon arrival, deputies responded to the location under the assumption that some juveniles and an elderly person were being held at gunpoint, the report stated.

Deputies utilized emergency equipment and notified dispatch that SWAT would be needed, the report stated.

Officers began setting up a perimeter around the area, and observed a woman, later identified as the gunman’s wife, walking towards them from the incident location, according to sheriff’s deputies.

While securing the woman, deputies also observed a man wearing only shorts and flip flops walking towards the highway from the residence, the report stated.

The first complainant, who was also on scene, identified the man as the gunman.

Officers quickly pulled out their assault rifles and ordered the man to the ground, the report stated. Deputies say the man seemed confused as he dropped to the ground. The man was detained.

A security sweep of the residence was performed and no one was located within the home, deputies say.

According to the report, a rusted, wooden stock rifle without a barrel was located at the residence. Deputies say no one seemed to be injured or harmed.

Parties involved advised deputies that the gunman located a snake behind the home and shot it.  At that time, one of the couple’s children screamed as being alarmed by the shot, the report stated.

The first complainant added that he never saw the man with the weapon he just heard the shot and scream, according to sheriff’s deputies.

The man was released from custody.

According to deputies, officers asked the gunman about the second caller who fabricated the kidnapping, and according to the man, he and the second complainant have a history of verbal disputes.

Deputies say they attempted to contact the second caller, but were unable to get an answer.