Charleston Police believe a robbery or drug deal or possibly a combination of the two led to a shooting early Thursday morning along Oakwood Road.
“The scene of the shooting right outside the doorway of the house there was several hundred dollars in cash lying on the ground and we also found a handgun,” said Chief of Detectives Sgt. Steve Cooper. “We’re speculating some type of a transaction was taking place.”
The victim, identified by police as Hai Nguyn, 47 was shot twice in the incident. He’s in critical condition at CAMC. Cooper says they spoke briefly with him before he entered surgery, but didn’t get much. Two roommates of the victim are also talking to police. They claim to have heard the shooter demanding money from the victim.
“A witness heard the suspect demanding money,” Cooper said. “We believe the two were known to each other and we do not believe this was a random act of violence.”
Police have only a vague description of the shooter.
“A large black male in dark clothing is all we know,” Cooper said.
Cooper wouldn’t say what type of weapon was found at the scene. Although he says the appearance of the crime scene indicated there may have been a struggle before the shooting. He also added investigators found a crack pipe inside the home, but was unsure if that was somehow connected to the crime.
Cooper says police do not believe the public is in danger with the suspect at large.
“I want to reiterate, the victim and suspect were known to each other and we have no reason to believe that anyone else is in danger,” he said.