Citizens are being recognized for their assistance in the South Carolina Walmart attack.
WSPA – SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Citizens who assisted a police officer in a Walmart attack in 2020 were recognized on Monday as authorities addressed new laws on officer threats.
Officers were previously dispatched to Walmart on Dorman Centre Drive in August 2020 in response to a disturbance and a brawl.
Later, the call was escalated to an officer-down call. According to Spartanburg Police, the off-duty officer, Erin Hansen, was working security for Walmart when he was attacked by a suspect inside the shop.
According to the Spartanburg County Solicitor’s Office, the individual attacked the uniformed city police officer while the officer stood near the self-checkout line without provocation.
The guy, subsequently identified as James Ray Cunningham, 22, of Woodruff, was charged in the incident, according to police.
Cunningham was lifted off the incapacitated cop by several spectators who saw the crime. Bystanders intervened to stop the attack, while others in the store dialed 911. Cunningham repeatedly struck a client before departing the establishment.
“We had citizens who not only talked but also did something.” “They saved him from additional harm and probably even death,” said Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson.
Four of the citizens who assisted were recognized on Monday. They have now received the Bill Barnet award for their bravery.
“Everyone calls me a hero, but I just did what came naturally to me.” “You know, I couldn’t simply stand there and watch someone get harmed like that,” William Strong, Bill Barnet award winner, stated.
“I am just really appreciative, I mean, I owe them the world,” said Spartanburg Police Officer Erin Hansen.
On Monday, Solicitor Barry Barnette, Sheriff Chuck Wright, and Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson held a news conference to commemorate the citizens and discuss planned legislation to reinforce state law for those who threaten public officials. The bill was written by Spartanburg Representative Max Hyde.
Currently, the state has a statute that makes threatening a public figure a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine or up to five years in prison if convicted. Officials are now attempting to strengthen the penalty with a new bill if someone acts on the threat to hurt others.
“We would want to encourage our lawmakers and governor to look into it and consider passing the measure to gain further safety for individuals, our public employees, and those who serve the people, and we need that,” said Solicitor Barry Barnette.
Anyone found guilty of threatening and carrying out a threat might face up to 30 years in jail if the new measure is approved.
“This must be accompanied by a visible deed.” So that’s what makes it unique, and it must be directly tied to the public officials’ public obligations,” noted Spartanburg Representative Max Hyde, District 32.
“It should be a more severe sentence since they went out of their way to carry out a threat to really make it happen,” Barnette added.
Because of events like the one that occurred at Walmart in Spartanburg last year, steps are now being taken to introduce this additional distinction. If enacted, the new law might assist in severely penalizing individuals who commit similar acts.
Representative Max Hyde of the state is optimistic that the proposed law will be on the agenda of the Subcommittee on Criminal Laws in the near future.
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