Marion police investigate possible gang-related attacks

MARION — Marion police are investigating two attacks they believe may be gang-related.

The first happened at about 1 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Manning and Wheeler streets in Marion where a group of 10 to 15 people physically assaulted a 19-year-old and a juvenile, Lt. Farmer Blue said.

The second attack happened Monday night on Dixon Street in Marion, Blue said. A man was walking down the street when a car pulled up and several people got out of the vehicle and began beating the man with a lead pipe. The suspects also robbed the victim, then fled the scene.

In both cases, the victims were taken to area hospitals and treated for their injuries. They are all expected to recover, Blue said.

Many residents who live in the community say the incidents are very unsettling.

Elizabeth Davis has lived in Marion for nearly her entire life and is less than a block from the scene of the first attack.

“I’m afraid and of course I haven’t been able to get out lately because I’ve been sick myself and still am, but even in the house you don’t really ever know who’s out there,” she said.

Davis said she tries to stay indoors as much as possible, but is still concerned about what is taking place in her community.

James Adams has also lived in Marion for many years and lives about a block from the scene of the second attack.

Like Davis, Adams said, the community has changed over the years and he no longer feels safe outside after dark.

“It wasn’t as bad as it is now. This was a nice street when I moved here, all friendly, old people ... but now teenagers have got in and took over,” he said.

In addition to the increasing gang violence among young people, Adams said, he also noticed an influx of drug activity and said it’s a major factor in the violence.

Marion police have made attempts recently to curb gang violence and reach out to Marion’s teen population. They’ve worked to enforce a curfew in the city and conducted outreach efforts to try to connect with the area’s teens.

Now, police have again turned their attention to the teen population to try and solve this latest series of attacks.

The arrests of four suspects are pending in the first incident, but Blue said but police still are looking for the suspects in the second assault.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at (843) 423-8616 or the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). Callers need not reveal their identities.