A South Carolina man is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting his 17-year-old cousin during an argument over salt and vinegar potato chips.
According to the Post and Courier, Ryan Dean Langdale, 19, initially reported the September 29 incident as an accidental shooting. However, police announced Wednesday that forensic evidence contradicted claims that the 17-year-old accidentally shot himself when he dropped a rife that he was cleaning.
Colleton County police Major J.W. Chapman said it would’ve been “impossible” for the teen to have accidentally shot himself given the trajectory of the bullet that pierced his chest and nearly killed him.
“We knew from the beginning that something wasn’t right,” he told the newspaper. “The more we looked into it, the more it seemed odd.”
The victim was rushed to the hospital and underwent life-saving surgery. He woke up a week later reportedly told police that Langdale shot him during a disagreement over potato chips. According to a sheriff’s report obtained by The Post and Courier, the victim stated that Langdale threatened to shoot him if he touched his chips before retrieving a rifle from a back room and aiming it at him.
“The next thing he knew the rifle went off,” the report said.
Not only is Langdale accused of telling the victim to lie to police about what happened, but investigators alleged Langdale claimed a different rifle was used in the shooting. The newspaper reported that authorities retrieved the weapon used in the shooting on Monday.
Langdale is also charged with using a firearm in a violent crime and obstructing justice. His bail was set at $55,000.
[Featured image: Ryan Dean Langdale/Colleton County Sheriff’s Office]
