Public Safety

An accidental shooting led to the discovery of marijuana plants, a quantity of drugs and firearms Saturday. The incident occurred just before midnight in a home on Swamp Fox Highway West. Augustine Franco, 22, called 911 after shooting himself in the hand, according to a report with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded with EMS as is standard protocol in any case involving gunshot wounds.  While deputies...

Back to back murder trials for a Columbus County man could send him to death row. Jury selection starts Monday as Chauncey Askew goes on trial for the first degree murder of Jerome Parrott in 2016. Court officials said that as soon as that trial is over, jury selection will begin for the capital murder for the killing of Trooper Kevin Conner in 2018. The trials were moved...

The man allegedly assaulted by a father and son on Christmas Eve now faces assault charges of his own. Roger Hammonds, 29, of 5325 Princess Ann Road, Evergreen, was arrested on to counts of assault with a deadly weapon on Dec. 31. He was released on $1,500 unsecured bond, according to detention center reports. The sheriff’s office reported that Hammonds and Justin Lake Walker, 20, were arguing over...