Sheriff sends warning after tequila theft turns into ‘life-or-death situation’ at South Carolina store
AND TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE’RE GOING TO START WITH SOME TRIBUTES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WHO CONTINUES TO LIE IN REPOSE IN ATLANTA. PRESIDENT CARTER REPRESENTED A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND WE WERE VERY PROUD OF HIM. WE RESPECTED HIM. HE CARED ABOUT HIS NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR. HE ALWAYS CHECKED IN ON ANYBODY IN TOWN. HE’D SEND LETTERS TO JUST HOW, FROM ALL THE WORK HE HAD TO DO, HOW PERSONABLE HE STAYED WITH EVERYBODY. A LIVE LOOK FROM ATLANTA. NOW, AS THE NATION CONTINUES TO HONOR AND REMEMBER JIMMY CARTER THIS MORNING, THE 39TH PRESIDENT WAS A GREAT HUMANITARIAN, KNOWN FOR HIS WORK TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND HOMELESS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HE DIED AT 100 YEARS OLD. THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S BODY WILL TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON TOMORROW, WHERE HE’LL LIE IN STATE IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA. HIS FUNERAL IS THURSDAY MORNING AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL. WE’LL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE FROM ATLANTA WITH OUR JANE ROBELOT BEGINNING ON WF NEWS FOUR AT 4:00. MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL HEAD TO NEW ORLEANS TODAY TO ATTEND A VIGIL IN HONOR OF THOSE KILLED AND INJURED DURING THE NEW YEAR’S DAY VEHICLE ATTACK. TANIQUA PINNIX JOINS US WITH MORE DETAILS. WELL, PAYTON AND AARON, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE VICTIMS, AS WELL AS SPEAK AT THE VIGIL TODAY. MEANWHILE, THE LOUISIANA GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING A PERIOD OF MOURNING FOR THOSE VICTIMS EACH WEEKDAY STARTING TODAY THROUGH JANUARY 23RD. FLAGS AT SCHOOLS, BUILDINGS AND UNIVERSITIES WILL BE AT HALF STAFF IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE WILL BE HELD AT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR EACH VICTIM. TODAY’S PRAYER VIGIL IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT WILL BE HELD IN THE COMING DAYS. LAST NIGHT, DOZENS GATHERED FOR A PRAYER VIGIL ON CANAL AND BOURBON STREET. TANIQUA. THANK YOU. THIS MORNING WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE MAN ACCUSED OF A BOMB THREAT THAT SHUT DOWN INTERSTATE 85. 28 YEAR OLD AHMAD AL-HINDI IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES. A JUDGE GRANTED HIM A BOND OF MORE THAN $20,000. IMMIGRATIONS AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT SAYS HE’S A JORDANIAN NATIONAL WHO ENTERED THE COUNTRY LEGALLY IN SEPTEMBER 2018, IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, BUT DIDN’T COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF HIS LEGAL ADMITTANCE. AL-HINDI WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER THAT INCIDENT LAST THURSDAY AND IS CHARGED WITH BREACH OF PEACE OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE, CONVEYING FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT A BOMB THREAT AND OPERATING AN UNREGISTERED VEHICLE. JAIL RECORDS ALSO SHOW HE’S BEING HELD ON AN ICE DETAINER. ICE SAYS AL-HINDI HAS A HEARING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST OF 2026, WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW. AND TODAY, CONGRESS WILL CONVENE TO CERTIFY THE 2024 ELECTION RESULTS. IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE CERTIFICATION WILL TAKE PLACE SINCE RIOTERS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL IN 2021 TO TRY TO PREVENT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS FROM TAKING PLACE. PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PROMISED A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO THE NEXT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TRANSITION WILL CONTINUE TO GO SMOOTHLY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. CONVERSATIONS AROUND DISTRACTED DRIVING LAWS ARE ONCE AGAIN HAPPENING AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE LAST MONTH, TWO BILLS WERE PRE-FILED IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WHICH EXPANDS THE LAW THAT’S ALREADY IN PLACE. THE CURRENT LAW RESTRICTS PEOPLE FROM TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. HOWEVER, THE PRE-FILED BILLS MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR A PERSON TO EVEN HAVE A CELL PHONE IN THEIR HAND WHILE DRIVING. THE BILLS WOULD ALSO CREATE A DISTRACTED DRIVING OFFENSE IN THE STATE, AND THEN INCREASE THE PENALTIES. IF A DRIVER IS CAUGHT. STATE LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO COLUMBIA ON JANUARY 14TH AND MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS WORKING WELL. THAT’S ONE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S TOP SUGGESTIONS BEFORE DRIVING IN WINTER WEATHER, SO YOU’LL NEED TO LISTEN UP TO THIS. OFFICIALS RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO STAY HOME UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE ON THE ROAD IN THAT KIND OF WEATHER. IF SO, MAKE SURE YOU SLOW DOWN AND KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS. USE CAUTION WHEN APPROACHING BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES AS THOSE THINGS CAN ICE UP QUICKLY. IF YOU START TO SLIDE ON A SLICK SPOT. DON’T PANIC. USE YOUR BRAKES GENTLY, IF AT ALL, AND WAIT FOR YOUR CAR TO SLOW DOWN SO IT CAN GAIN SOME TRACTION. 649 NOW IN LAWRENCE, SCHOOL DISTRICT 55 HAS ITS TEACHER SIGNING DAY. TODAY, ISABELLE MARAK JOINS US LIVE FROM THE DISTRICT WITH WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT. ISABELLE. HEY, ERIN AND PEYTON. GOOD MORNING. IT’S A UNIQUE WAY TO CELEBRATE TEACHER RECRUITMENT HERE IN THE DISTRICT. AND THE DISTRICT TELLS ME THAT A LOT OF THESE TEACHERS, THEY’RE HOMEGROWN. THEY’RE COMING BACK TO THE AREA AFTER COLLEGE. LAWRENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT 55 ALSO SAYS THAT IN THE MIDST OF A TEACHER SHORTAGE, HERE, A TEACHER SHORTAGE, THAT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS ABLE TO SECURE TEACHERS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE HERE. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 1000 TEACHER VACANCIES ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THE TEACHER SIGNING DAY WILL TAKE PLACE HERE AT 8:30 A.M. THIS MORNING, BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, ISABELLE MARAK FOR WIFE NEWS FOUR. WELL THANK YOU ISABELLE. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY MONDAY. 650 A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT NOW. WE’VE TAKEN ASHEVILLE OUT OF IT. IT’S ESSENTIALLY FROM THE EASTERN PARTS OF BLACK MOUNTAIN, ALL THE WAY INTO CHARLOTTE. SO RIGHT ALONG I-40, ESPECIALLY JUST NORTH AND SOUTH OF THERE, IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, YOU’VE GOT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT, BECAUSE WE’RE SEEING SOME FREEZING RAIN MIXING IN WITH SOME OF THIS COLD RAIN AT TIMES, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE PINK. THOSE ARE THE AREAS TO WATCH OUT FOR IF YOU ARE TRAVELING THIS MORNING. THIS IS A COLD FRONT, BY THE WAY, THE LAST LEG OF THE RAINFALL IS PUSHING THROUGH CULLOWHEE AND WALHALLA RIGHT NOW, SO THIS WILL BE OVER WITH BY ABOUT 9:00 OR SO. FOR MOST OF US. BUT PARTS OF LAKE LURE GETTING IN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER HERE, MARION, ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND NORTH OF THERE, AS FAR SOUTH AS CHESNEE. BE EXTRA CAREFUL. YOU COULD SEE SOME SLICK SPOTS, OR AT LEAST SOME ICY SPOTS ON THOSE ROADWAYS THIS MORNING. HERE WE GO. NINE 10:00. IN THAT AREA, THIS RAINFALL COMES TO AN END. WE’LL HAVE CLEARING SKIES, BUT LOOK AT OUR TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 4:00 AND 7:00. THEY ARE GOING TO BE FALLING LATE AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT, JUST AS OUR WINDS ARE GOING TO GO UP. SO SOME OF THOSE GUSTS OF 40MPH AT TIMES AS THOSE TEMPERATURES ARE FALLING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR THE UPSTATE, THOSE GUSTS ARE GOING TO BE UP TO 50MPH AT TIMES ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, AS THOSE TEMPERATURES START DROPPING RIGHT AFTER LUNCH TODAY, A LOT MORE DETAILS ON THE REST OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKEND WITH YOUR FOUR-DAY PLUS COMING UP IN ABOUT 6 OR 7 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. FIRST, LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE. GET A CHECK ON THOSE ROADS, PEYTON. THANK YOU. PARELLA. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM I-85 NORTH NEAR PELHAM ROAD IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. DEFINITELY A LOT MORE CARS VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. STILL NOT SEEING ANY CRASHES, ANY SLOWDOWNS SO FAR THIS MORNING. ROADS ARE WET. KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU’RE HEADING OUT. LET’S CHECK OUR TRAVEL TIMES. ALL IN THE GREEN, BUT UP ABOUT A MINUTE FROM WHAT WE NORMALLY LIKE TO SEE. 13 MINUTES I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY, I-26 EASTBOUND SEVEN MINUTES. AIRPORT TO WOODRUFF ROAD, I-85 SOUTHBOUND AND 14 MINUTES FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN I-35 NORTHBOUND. BILTMORE WILL BE UNVEILING A NEW EXHIBIT FOR 2025 STARTING ON MARCH 21ST. PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE TUTANKHAMUN, HIS TOMB, AND HIS TREASURES AT THE AMHERST DEER PARK EXHIBITION CENTER. IT OFFERS AN EXPLORATION INTO ANCIENT EGYPT IN THE TIME OF TUTANKHAMUN. KING TUT, FEATURING A CLOSE LOOK AT THE DISCOVERY OF KING TUT’S TOMB. THE SPRING WILL ALSO MARK THE
Sheriff sends warning after tequila theft turns into ‘life-or-death situation’ at South Carolina store
Updated: 2:19 PM EST Jan 6, 2025
A man who tried to steal a case of tequila at a South Carolina package store now faces charges of attempted murder, officials said on Monday.(Above video is the Monday morning headlines for Jan. 6, 2025.)Deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office were called about 3 p.m. on Saturday to Stateline Elite package store at 9804 Charlotte Highway, in Indian Land, after a report of shots fired in the store, officials said.Deputies said five employees and four customers were in the store at the time of the shooting. More news: 4 EMS staff fired after pictures from Frankie’s death investigation were found on personal phone According to witnesses, a man entered the store, picked up two cases of high-dollar tequila, then tried to walk out without paying for the liquor, officials said. The man was later identified as Datarius Marques Vaughn-McHam, 27, of Charlotte.They said two employees intervened, as one physically restrained Vaughn-McHam, and the other blocked his exit. That’s when Vaughn-McHam pulled a 9mm pistol from his pocket, officials said.Vaughn-McHam struggled with the employees over the gun and two shots were fired from the pistol, officials said.More news: Upstate driver killed in early-morning crash, troopers sayThey said neither gunshot struck anyone. A customer assisted the employees in restraining Vaughn-McHam until the first deputy arrived.One employee was bitten during the struggle, and Vaughn-McHam suffered a bloody nose, officials said. He was checked out by Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services. No other injuries were reported, deputies said. They said the pistol and other ballistic evidence were recovered, and damage caused by the gunfire was documented. More news: Upstate plant evacuated due to bomb threat, police chief says As a result of the ensuing investigation, Vaughn-McHam was arrested and charged with Attempted murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.Deputies discovered that Vaughn-McHam was wanted by several North Carolina law enforcement agencies, and the pistol had been reported as lost to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on New Year’s Eve. Vaughn-McHam was taken into custody and appeared before a magistrate Sunday morning, officials said. They said his bond was denied, and he remains at the Lancaster County Detention Center. “This was a very dangerous incident, and I am thankful no one was shot or seriously hurt,” Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said. “While we are glad Vaughn-McHam was detained by the employees and a customer, I caution folks that what begins as a property crime like this can quickly turn into a life-or-death situation when you don’t know who you’re dealing with or what he might have on him. The better course is to get a good description or photos of the suspect and his car with a tag number and pass that information on to the police.”
A man who tried to steal a case of tequila at a South Carolina package store now faces charges of attempted murder, officials said on Monday.
(Above video is the Monday morning headlines for Jan. 6, 2025.)
Deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office were called about 3 p.m. on Saturday to Stateline Elite package store at 9804 Charlotte Highway, in Indian Land, after a report of shots fired in the store, officials said.
Deputies said five employees and four customers were in the store at the time of the shooting.
More news: 4 EMS staff fired after pictures from Frankie’s death investigation were found on personal phone
According to witnesses, a man entered the store, picked up two cases of high-dollar tequila, then tried to walk out without paying for the liquor, officials said.
The man was later identified as Datarius Marques Vaughn-McHam, 27, of Charlotte.
They said two employees intervened, as one physically restrained Vaughn-McHam, and the other blocked his exit.
That’s when Vaughn-McHam pulled a 9mm pistol from his pocket, officials said.
Vaughn-McHam struggled with the employees over the gun and two shots were fired from the pistol, officials said.
More news: Upstate driver killed in early-morning crash, troopers say
They said neither gunshot struck anyone.
A customer assisted the employees in restraining Vaughn-McHam until the first deputy arrived.
One employee was bitten during the struggle, and Vaughn-McHam suffered a bloody nose, officials said. He was checked out by Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services.
No other injuries were reported, deputies said.
They said the pistol and other ballistic evidence were recovered, and damage caused by the gunfire was documented.
More news: Upstate plant evacuated due to bomb threat, police chief says
As a result of the ensuing investigation, Vaughn-McHam was arrested and charged with Attempted murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
Deputies discovered that Vaughn-McHam was wanted by several North Carolina law enforcement agencies, and the pistol had been reported as lost to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on New Year’s Eve.
Vaughn-McHam was taken into custody and appeared before a magistrate Sunday morning, officials said.
They said his bond was denied, and he remains at the Lancaster County Detention Center.
“This was a very dangerous incident, and I am thankful no one was shot or seriously hurt,” Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said. “While we are glad Vaughn-McHam was detained by the employees and a customer, I caution folks that what begins as a property crime like this can quickly turn into a life-or-death situation when you don’t know who you’re dealing with or what he might have on him. The better course is to get a good description or photos of the suspect and his car with a tag number and pass that information on to the police.”
