Suspect Captured After 2 Children and 1 Adult Were Struck in a Hit-and-Run Incident in South Carolina

The suspect in a hit-and-run that struck two children and one adult was captured by South Carolina authorities on Thursday, May 1.

According to an update from the Isle of Palms Police Department, the suspect, identified as Justin Collin Adams, was taken into custody without incident shortly after he allegedly struck two children and one adult with a sedan outside Sunrise Presbyterian Church.

Police found Adams hiding on a boat in the 3200 block of Jasper Blvd, shortly after an advisory notice went out warning residents in the area that he was “still at large and possibly armed with a knife.”

“He was found on a dock behind a house across the church,” Chief Glenn Meadows stated during the final press conference regarding the incident. “He was on a boat.”

Meadows said Adams was found after he was observed by an aviation unit helicopter.

During the first press conference from the Isle of Palms Police Department, Sgt. Mattew Storen said officers were made aware of the incident after a call came in at 12:48 p.m. “involving a wreck with multiple injuries.”

It was explained that the two juveniles and one adult “were injured by a vehicle.” The adult and one of the children were transported to the hospital with injuries, while the second child was treated at the scene and released to their parent.

Adams is said to have fled the scene on foot and was last seen armed with a knife. It was also noted that there was no altercation before the incident.

When asked if the incident was intentional, Storen told reporters that it was part of the investigation, noting that “some reports are saying it was an accident.”

During the final press conference, Meadows said that one of the individuals who was transported to the hospital had been released, while another was set to be released.

The police chief also said that his department would not comment on any possible charges related to the incident, as the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office would be leading the criminal and crime scene investigations.

Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said Adams was being interviewed to “determine why this happened, what went on, and what charges [will be made].”

“So we don’t have those yet, what charges we’re going to make. But there will be charges, obviously,” said Ritchie.

Meadows shared during a second press conference that officers were conducting a house-by-house grid search to locate Adams.

“In addition to doing searches of the homes, we’re searching every vehicle leaving the island,” added Meadows. He asked residents to stay inside at the time and reiterated that whether the incident was intentional was still under investigation.

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It was also stated that the FBI and U.S. Marshals were involved in the search.