Shooting Leaves One Dead in Robynwyn

Shots rang out just after midnight Thursday outside a small brick home in Robynwyn, leaving one man dead and another rushing to the hospital.

The coroner's office said John Elliot Hancock, 36, was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Summerville Police recovered dozens of shell casings, according to Coroner Chris Nisbet.

"It is very interesting to me that he was the only one hit," Nisbet said in a statement. 

Witnesses described seeing a mid-sized four-door sedan leaving the area at a high rate of speed, according to police. The suspect vehicle could be brown or silver in color and had several occupants.

Barbara Williams, the sister of the 36-year-old shooting victim, said her son was not shot, but suffered a panic attack.

Williams said two men and one woman were in a car in the driveway of the home when the shooting occurred. 

Multiple shots are seen on the vehicle where Hancock was sitting at the time of the incident, and the coroner said the victim was likely shot outside of the vehicle.

"It is unclear, to me, at this time, if he was first struck while in the vehicle, but he was obliviously struck multiple times outside of the vehicle," Nisbet said.

Williams said she's not sure why anyone would want to shoot her brother.

"John is the type of person, he don't believe in trouble," Williams said. 

If you have any information on this incident, call the Summerville Police Department (871-2463) or Crimestoppers (554-1111). 

Updated 1 p.m. Oct. 4 to add information from Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet.