Armed Citizen Halts Shooting Rampage By Man Who Went Berserk Over Vape

An armed citizen halted a shooting rampage Thursday by a man who went berserk over a dispute about a vaping device.

The Chester County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office said in a Thursday Facebook post that Brandon Tavon Cassidy opened fire on two people in Edgemoor, striking one victim multiple times before the armed citizen drew a firearm of his own and returned fire. In the exchange of gunfire, Cassidy was fatally wounded, while the armed citizen was also shot, Charlotte-area TV station WJZY reported.

“A second victim returned fire in self-defense,” the sheriff’s office said. “This exchange of gunfire left both the second victim and Cassidy with gunshot wounds. Brandon Cassidy died as a result of his injuries.”

The incident occurred shortly after midnight Thursday, the sheriff’s office said in a post earlier that day.

“Chester Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a shooting incident in the area of Mays Drive in the Edgemoor community,” the office said. “Upon the arrival of Deputies, they located three gunshot victims. One victim was later identified as the suspect. Two gunshot victims including the suspect were pronounced deceased as a result of their injuries sustained during the shooting. The third victim was transported to the hospital for further treatment.”

The Chester County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is continuing.

In July, a Gastonia, North Carolina, homeowner opened fire on a man trying to break into his home, wounding the would-be burglar. Gastonia Police said in a July 22 Facebook post that 57-year-old Cedric Ford and his girlfriend, 47-year-old Sanja Stallings, had falsely claimed in a 911 call that they had been attacked in a drive-by shooting in a 911 call.

“Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Ford was attempting to break into the residence at approximately 7:13 a.m. when the homeowner fired a single round through a window, striking Ford,” Gastonia Police said in the Facebook post.