Charleston Woman Grieves Loss and Calls for Gun Safety Following Fatal Shooting
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A Charleston woman, distressed by the loss of her husband and dealing with her own injuries, is now urging the public to heed proper gun safety practices.
In a tragic turn of events on the night of July 5, gunfire rang out in the Bridgeview Apartments on North Romney Street, leaving three people shot. Among them was 44-year-old Brian Fokes, who unfortunately succumbed to his wounds at the scene. The other victims, a teenager and Fokes’ wife Pearl Samuels, were immediately rushed to a local hospital.
“I got shot in my pelvic bone and through my uterine line…I still have a bullet lodged in my buttocks area,” shared a sorrowful Samuels.
A Terrible Series of Events
Recounting the harrowing ordeal, Samuels stated that the incident occurred after her husband went outside to ask the noisy upstairs neighbor to turn it down. Fokes came back inside but stepped out again later, engaging in a brief exchange of words with the neighbor. It was during this confrontation that the neighbor reached into his pocket, seemingly for a firearm that got accidentally discharged.
“Every bullet ricocheted from the ground into us,” a distraught Samuels explained. Their 16-year-old daughter, who was standing right behind Fokes at the time, was saved from the gunshots thanks to her father serving as an impromptu shield. Meanwhile, their 10-year-old plaintively looked on from his bedroom window.
A Lost Hero
The couple had been together for 25 years, united in their battles and joys. Remembering her late partner’s kindness, Samuels said, “He had a big heart. He would take the shirt off his back, but he did not take trash from anybody.”
Despite a challenging upbringing, Fokes was a beacon of positivity. “He was a living example of what you can do when you put your head forward and you surround yourself with positive people,” Samuels fondly reminisces. “He’s done a lot and he’s been through a lot, but he’s conquered all of it. So, there was no question in my heart that when he passed, he went to heaven.”
The Wait for Justice
Charleston Police Department have reported that the case remains active, with no arrests made at this point. Expressing her deep concerns, Samuels said, “I hope they hurry up and make an arrest because a person of that caliber has enough room to go out and hurt someone else.”
Samuels pointed out that the shooter appeared to be as shocked as the victims when the unintended gun discharge occurred. Nevertheless, his unintentional act led to the death of a person and severe injuries to two others.
A Call for Tighter Gun Laws
Whilst still grappling with her grief, Samuels is now channeling her energy into advocating for stricter gun laws. “The law should be a little stiffer on who gets them and how they’re being used,” she echoed. “A lot of people are going to die until they figure it out. People just aren’t who they seem to be until they get themselves in an altercation.”
Brian Fokes leaves behind his wife and four grieving children. Shattered by the loss, Samuels expresses gratitude for the support her family has been receiving from the community.
The Charleston Police Department welcomes any information about the shooting. People with information are encouraged to reach out to the Charleston Police on-duty central detective at 843-743-7200 or via e-mail at speaktocpd@charleston-sc.gov.
