Poker machines confiscated after shootingBy Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Charleston County Sheriff's Office The Charleston County Sheriff's Office reported confiscating nine video-poker machines from a Johns Island home where a man was shot over the weekend with a military-style rifle. To helpAnybody with information on the shooting at Ardy's Social Club on Wadmalaw Island early Saturday is asked to call the Charleston County Sheriff's Office at 202-1700 or 308-7315. Tips will be kept confidential. JOHNS ISLAND — Charleston County Sheriff's deputies said they confiscated nine arcade-style poker machines from a home where a man was shot with a rifle this weekend. Detectives were unsure what prompted the violence and have not identified any suspects, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said. They were trying to determine if anybody lived at the mobile home on Henry Singleton Road, a dirt track a few turns off Main Road. Vice officers were assisting in the probe. "We're looking at robbery as a motive," Clark said. "We're definitely going to look into the gambling aspect of it." The shooting left Keith Gadsden with a wound to his upper right torso. Gadsden, who the report described as a 48-year-old construction worker, was in good condition Monday at Medical University Hospital. Clark said Gadsden lives in North Charleston. State Law Enforcement Division records show that he has no criminal record here. Deputies reported recovering a ski mask and military-style rifle. Detectives had been interviewing at least four witnesses, Clark said. The incident was one of two weekend shootings in rural areas. The other, at 2 a.m. Saturday at Ardy's Social Club on Wadmalaw Island, wounded three people, one seriously. Deputies said Richard Champaigne, 24, was airlifted from the scene at 5975 Maybank Highway to Medical University Hospital with a wound to the chest. Sheriff's Detective Jon Jacobik said Champaigne was expected to survive. He also said two others were treated at the hospital that morning, including a man who drove himself to the hospital after being hit in the face and a third who was hit in the arm. Investigators were trying to reach some of the estimated 150 people thought to have been attending a private party at the club during the shooting. Jacobik said deputies recovered a handgun at the scene. Reach Noah Haglund at nhaglund@postandcourier.com or 937-5550. |
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by lillycollette on July 1, 2008 at 4:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Quote: "We're looking at robbery as a motive," Clark said. "We're definitely going to look into the gambling aspect of it." ... Deputies reported recovering a ski mask and military-style rifle."
-- YEAH BUT -- isn’t gambling just a safe recreation that people have a right to engage in despite the law.
(Duh—this tongue-in-cheek is obviously NOT a question.)
Posted by wpc3iop on July 1, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Poor guy gets shot and will probably get arrested for gambling...What's wrong with this picture? I guess that will be easier than solving the real crime...
Posted by ColdBeer on July 1, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully BOTH real crimes will get solved (looks like one already has) and both criminals will be brought to justice. The law is the law.
Having said that, the law needs to be changed. Get rid of bingo and the lottery or legalize gambling. Anything else is hypocritical.
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like someone got mad at the "casino" owner. Another example of "you deal in vice, you pay the price".
I agree with you Coldbeer. Either legalize it all or nothing. If video poker was legal and the legislature didn't waste so much of our money the state probably wouldn't be in the financial mess it is in now.
Posted by Early on July 1, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sore losser.
Posted by KidYendor on July 1, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to keep bingo legal to keep grandma off the streets. Bingo players pay a $5 state entrance tax. Sales tax is applied to all bingo cards sold. We need to legalize video poker but there are plenty of bars around with poker machines in the wide open so possibly it already legal and we missed it.
Posted by carolinadude on July 1, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coldbeer,
You're absolutely correct! The lottery is simply a state sanctioned and taxed numbers racket! The proceeds have supplanted other monies once devoted to education so what has SC gained? Are we better off or not for having a lottery? I know i have to wait in line any time i walk into a convenience store. The convenience store is no longer convenient!!
Posted by carolinadude on July 1, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I liken the recent sham of an state immigration reform ordinance with the outlawing of video poker (the "crack cocain" of gambling) in SC. THE PENALTIES ARE KEY. As most of us are aware, penalties for illegalities must be a deterrent. As i recall the penalty for video poker is only $2k. This is hardly a deterrent for video poker merchants. I thought that in recent months i was seeing video poker machines around in the local convenience stores. If this is the case and apparently it is, local law enforcers are turning their heads, "on the take" or both. It's a sad day in SC. VOTE THE RASCALS OUT IN NOVEMBER!!