Man claimed 'Russians' were sending him messages as he fired shots inside Ladson pawn shop
Pawn Shop Shooting Suspect Mentioned 9/11, Received Messages from Russians
New developments in a bizarre case of a man who investigators say walked into a Ladson area pawn shop, asked to see a rifle, loaded it and attempted to shoot the clerk.
Berkeley County Sheriff’s officials tell us that suspect told detectives that the Russians were sending him messages. He also made several references to 9/11.
Officials say Gregory Westfall went into Big Buck’s Pawn Shop on College Park Road just after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Westfall asked to see an AR-15 rifle. When the shop clerk handed him one, the suspect pulled out a magazine, loaded the weapon and opened fire.
That is when a store employee returned fire and Westfall fled.
Authorities caught Westfall a bit later in a wooded area behind the shop wearing ballistic armor.
He is now charged with two counts of attempted murder. Deputies say no one was injured.
“We are thankful that nobody was injured during this incident,” said Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis. “Thankfully citizens provided 911 with good information as the suspect tried to escape the area on foot.”