Concealed Carrier Prevents Nightclub Shooting in South Carolina-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
Reports that the media has been mum about a concealed carry gun owner who stopped a nightclub shooter in his tracks outside a South Carolina nightclub have gone viral in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 victims dead.
The Truth:
It’s true that a gun owner with a concealed carry permit stopped an active shooter outside a nightclub in South Carolina in June 2016.
The shooting unfolded outside Playoffz nightclub in Lyman, South Carolina, in the early morning hours of June 26th.
Officials with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department told 10 WISTV that 32-year-old Jody Ray Thompson fired a gun into a crowd outside the nightclub after he got into an argument:
“His rounds struck three victims, and almost struck a fourth victim, who in self-defense, pulled his own weapon and fired, striking Thompson in the leg,” Lt. Kevin Bobo said.
Bobo said the man who shot Thompson has a valid concealed weapons permit, cooperated with investigators, and won’t be facing any charges.
“Thompson was still on the scene when deputies arrived, but the initial scene was chaotic,” Bobo said. “It wasn’t until victims and witnesses were interviewed, and video from the scene was reviewed that Thompson was identified as the suspect.”
Thompson was charged with four counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Websites advocating for gun rights like Freedom Outpost seized the story to make the case for concealed carry to protect crowds of people from active shooters, especially in crowded public places.
These posts also claimed that the media had failed to report the shooting because of likely bias against 2nd Amendment rights and gun owners.
But that’s not necessarily true. Various media outlets in the Carolinas covered the story, including the Charlotte Observer, WQAD 8, GoUpState.com and KFOR. The
Associated Press also picked up the story, which allowed national outlets like FOX News to publish the story online. Still, it’s true that most national media outlets didn’t report the story.
So, it’s true that a concealed carrier stopped a man who opened fire on a group outside a nightclub in South Carolina. But claims that there was a media blackout are debatable.