Suspected Hardeeville carjacker killed by ‘armed citizen who protected himself
Police said a man was shot and killed Sunday night near downtown Hardeeville in an apparent act of self-defense as he attempted one of several “armed assaults” in the area.
Around 9:40 p.m. Sunday, officers from the Hardeeville Police Department received word of an armed suspect who attempted to carjack a DoorDash delivery driver before fleeing on foot in the direction of Whyte Hardee Boulevard, according to Chief of Police Sam Woodward.
As they responded to that call, police heard several gunshots nearby. Woodward said the unnamed suspect fired several shots near the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, but police weren’t sure if he had a specific target in mind.
The man allegedly attempted another carjacking outside the Friendship Inn & Studios, located at 20750 Whyte Hardee Boulevard. He pointed his firearm at the driver of the car and fired at least once, Woodward said, and the driver fired a number of shots in return.
The suspected carjacker was struck by at least three bullets, Woodward said. He was pronounced dead at the scene after Hardeeville officers attempted life-saving measures. The driver was initially detained but was later released as police learned more about the incident.
Investigators later said the deceased man “was actively involved in attempted armed assaults on potential victims when he encountered an armed citizen who protected himself,” the Hardeeville Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Woodward said the homicide remained under investigation, but investigators believed the driver had acted in self-defense. “Right now, everything’s pointing in that direction,” he said.
The chief added that officers had trespassed the suspect from a business earlier that night. Hardeeville police had encountered the man prior to Sunday during several drug-related investigations, Woodward said, but the suspect’s behavior had not escalated to violence.
Staff at the Jasper County Coroner’s Office had not identified the deceased man as of Tuesday afternoon.