HANAHAN, S.C. – Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson announced Monday that the state will not pursue charges against the Hanahan Police Department officer involved in a car chase and shooting that left one person, Javin Ancrum, dead late last year.
According to Wilson, her office, in conjunction with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency, reviewed witness statements and video from law enforcement.
“Based on the evidence presented to me by SLED, it is clear that Mr. Ancrum died by suicide. The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office has made a similar finding,” she said.
On Dec. 5, 2020, authorities said Ancrum led Hanahan police on a car chase with a companion in his passenger seat. According to the solicitor’s office, his companion gave statements confirming that Ancrum committed suicide. She said that once the car stopped, Ancrum unzipped a bag located on the rear passenger floorboard and drew a handgun from its holster.
Authorities said he looked at her and said, “I have to shoot myself.”
She heard two loud gunshots followed by several shots from the police officer. The solicitor’s office said that sounds captured on police cameras indicated that gunshots were fired from inside Ancrum’s car.
Law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol beside Ancrum. Wilson said SLED determined that his 9mm pistol fired the bullet recovered at an autopsy from Ancrum’s head.
SLED’s DNA analysis also revealed that Ancrum’s DNA was on the 9mm pistol and the holster, which was located on the driver’s floorboard.
“While Officer Cameron Blackmon did fire his 40-caliber pistol in response to Ancrum’s gunfire, his shots struck no one. Officer Blackmon’s actions were justified based on South Carolina’s legal standards. Officer Blackmon reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of great bodily injury or death from the deceased,” Wilson said.
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