Man charged with shooting gun near West Ashley middle school

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A Charleston County middle school went into secure status the first morning of classes after a man allegedly fired a gun around a nearby apartment complex.

Zavion Blanding, 21, of Charleston, is charged with firing a weapon within city limits.

Charleston Police responded to the 1800 Ashley West Apartments on William Kennerty Drive around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday after construction workers nearby reported hearing possible gunshots.

Police found two people and determined that a newly-bought gun was fired into a wooded area near the complex.

Out of an abundance of caution, police say the nearby C.E. Williams Middle School’s North Campus was briefly placed on secure status while officers completed their investigation.

“The incident occurred off school property, and officers determined there was no active threat to the school. Students and staff were not involved in the incident,” police said in a statement.

Blanding was arrested and booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center, where he will be held pending a bond hearing. No mugshot was immediately available for Blanding.