News Reporter Attacked
- Thread starter mrtonguetwista
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Union, S.C. – A Spartanburg television crew was attacked Tuesday in Union while covering a story about a man charged with killing his grandfather with a blow to the head, according to authorities.
Three relatives of Michael Shane Howell, who was charged with murder, were charged with assault and battery in what authorities called an assault on reporter Charmayne Brown and photographer Ti Barnes of WSPA-TV. Charges are pending on a fourth person, according to the Union Public Safety Department.
Alex Bongiorno, news director for Channel 7, said Brown and Barnes were "taunted" with racial slurs "all day long" while on the scene, and that they continued after the attack. She declined to discuss their injuries, but said she was "very proud" of the crew for maintaining a "professional demeanor and attitude."
A statement released by the Union department said Howell, 33, was arguing with his grandfather, Tommy Howell, 73, at about 11 p.m. Monday and struck him on the head. He then placed his grandfather's body on the couch and broke out a section of the window in the front door of his home at 200 Spring St., which family members reported, according to the statement.
After Howell's arrest Tuesday, family members returned to the residence and were upset to find a crew from Channel 7 reporting on the incident, the statement said. They asked the crew to leave, and then three family members and a fourth person assaulted the crew, police said.
Warrants show Billie Joe Taylor, 31, of Gray Court, Trina Dawn Vinson, 48, of Union and Tousha Michelle Smith, 31, of Union were charged with assault and battery.
Brown will continue working, Bongiorno said.
Three relatives of Michael Shane Howell, who was charged with murder, were charged with assault and battery in what authorities called an assault on reporter Charmayne Brown and photographer Ti Barnes of WSPA-TV. Charges are pending on a fourth person, according to the Union Public Safety Department.
Alex Bongiorno, news director for Channel 7, said Brown and Barnes were "taunted" with racial slurs "all day long" while on the scene, and that they continued after the attack. She declined to discuss their injuries, but said she was "very proud" of the crew for maintaining a "professional demeanor and attitude."
A statement released by the Union department said Howell, 33, was arguing with his grandfather, Tommy Howell, 73, at about 11 p.m. Monday and struck him on the head. He then placed his grandfather's body on the couch and broke out a section of the window in the front door of his home at 200 Spring St., which family members reported, according to the statement.
After Howell's arrest Tuesday, family members returned to the residence and were upset to find a crew from Channel 7 reporting on the incident, the statement said. They asked the crew to leave, and then three family members and a fourth person assaulted the crew, police said.
Warrants show Billie Joe Taylor, 31, of Gray Court, Trina Dawn Vinson, 48, of Union and Tousha Michelle Smith, 31, of Union were charged with assault and battery.
Brown will continue working, Bongiorno said.
