Beech Island man arrested in pair of violent confrontations

BEECH ISLAND, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A suspect has been charged with assault/attempted murder after two separate verbal altercations turned violent in Beech Island, according to authorities.

Aiken County deputies say they responded to Williston Road about a shooting on Jan. 1.

While en route, deputies said the suspect, identified as Thomas Jackson Jr., 38, of Beech Island, did have active warrants for assault/attempted murder.

Deputies said when they met with the alleged victims at the Runs Missionary Baptist Church, the victims reported a verbal altercation turned physical.

One victim told authorities that when he tried to leave to avoid the altercation, he heard gunshots.

He stated he then ran to the church and called law enforcement, authorities say.

Deputies said they deployed a drone and spotted Jackson running out of a home.

Upon successfully tracking Jackson, deputies say they located him in a detached garage when he was taken into custody.

Jackson had active warrants for a shooting on Sand Bar Ferry Road back in Aug. 2023, authorities said.

Three victims told deputies that the suspect had already fled the scene and one of them had a gunshot wound in his right shoulder.

One victim told authorities Jackson approached her and asked her to use her bike. When she said no, a verbal altercation began.

She stated when she pulled out her phone to record the situation, Jackson stuck her with a nearby rake and pulled out a handgun.

The victim said she heard several gunshots after she turned around and ran into the house, according to authorities.

While she was in the house calling 911, another victim continued to argue with Jackson.

Jackson allegedly struck them with some sort of object, causing them to run into the house also, according to authorities.

Shortly after, another unidentified individual returned to the home in a blue SUV.

The unidentified driver backed the SUV into the driveway, and called out a name before firing three to four shots at all three individuals on scene, authorities say.

A round struck one victim in the right shoulder. They were transported to an area hospital and were in stable condition, according to authorities.

Jackson was arrested on Saturday and charged with two counts of assault/attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and tresing, according to jail records.

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