A year in review: 2024’s most-clicked stories on counton2.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Escaped monkeys, severe weather, an out-of-control container ship, and even elections dominated local headlines in 2024.

We saw visits from numerous presidential hopefuls early in the year, and South Carolina took a lashing during this year’s hurricane season. While there was no direct hit from any of the storms this year, one system – Debby – lingered along the coast and caused significant flooding, while another brought major impacts to the Upstate.

Escaping monkeys has become somewhat normal in the Palmetto State with two separate incidents happening this year – one including a 15-year-old Japanese macaque that ran away from its Walterboro home to more than 40 that escaped a Yemassee research facility.

And, collectively, our hearts were broken as we learned that two young women were killed in a double hit-and-run crash on Morrison Drive. Sadness truck again in December as we learned about the passing of Charleston’s radio friend, Mike Edwards, of Two Girls and a Guy, and Timothy Grainger, a longtime seller of hot boiled peanuts.

As the calendar changes, we look back at the top stories of 2024.

JANUARY

The year began with a presidential visit. President Joe Biden stopped in Charleston and spoke to the congregation at Mother Emanuel. It came as two new mayors, William Cogswell and Reggie Burgess, were sworn into office.

Video of a coyote attack went viral in January. The video, first shared with News 2, showed a Mount Pleasant man wrestling a coyote to save his dog from being attacked. The man got control of the animal and placed it into a nearby dumpster, keeping his small dog, Roxie, safe.

Berkeley County detectives announced an arrest in a more than 30-year-old cold case. The father and stepmother of 5-year-old Justin Lee Turner were taken into custody and charged with murder. Ultimately, the charges were dismissed against the pair because of the age of the case and lack of key physical evidence.

FEBRUARY

Voters headed to the polls in February to vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries. Voters chose to keep Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, and voted against South Carolina’s former governor, Nikki Haley, in favor of former President Donald Trump for the Republican ticket. Both candidates made repeated visits to South Carolina with stops in the Lowcountry.

As sea levels rise, and storms cause erosion along the coast, one Isle of Palms homeowner took matters into his own hands and began constructing a seawall to protect his property. The construction was discovered following a strong December storm that exposed the work. It was a controversial move that prompted discussion about what homeowners can do to protect their waterfront properties.

And a deli in downtown Charleston, The Pass, was damaged when a Maserati traveling on Spring Street disregarded a stop light and struck a Jeep before crashing into the business. The deli was heavily damaged and closed for some time. The deli eventually reopened after repairs were made.

MARCH

An off-duty Summerville officer, Anthony DeLustro, was arrested and charged with murder following an altercation in the parking lot of a Chick-fil-A on North Main Street. Videos showed DeLustro engaging in a confrontation with the victim, Michael O’Neal, before shooting and killing him.

Conspiracies flew in March following the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett. Barnett was found dead inside his vehicle at the “round” Holiday Inn off Savannah Highway. Police determined Barnett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later released security video of Barnett at the hotel leading up to his death.

A former South Carolina senator was arrested on hit-and-run charges for an incident in downtown Charleston. John Robert Kuhn, who served as a senator for District 43 from 2001- 2003, was accused of hitting a vehicle on Columbus Street and driving away. A man then approached Kuhn’s vehicle and engaged with the former lawmaker, but Kuhn continued to drive with the man still in front of his car. The man was knocked to the side when the SUV accelerated and the man rolled into the middle of the intersection.

Ridgeville’s chief of police, Quintion Joyner, was decertified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA), after it was discovered his driver’s license had been suspended for several years, making him ineligible to be in law enforcement in SC. Joyner later resigned.

APRIL

A family sought answers after a Charleston man, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, went missing while on vacation in Mexico. Edmond Solomon was on a Caribbean cruise with his wife when the two got separated in Cozumel, Mexico, and was not seen again. The search for Solomon eventually turned into a recovery effort.

Everyone look up! Charleston grabbed their solar glasses to watch an Eclipse. While the Lowcountry was not in totality, many were able to see the phenomenon.

A West Ashley man recalled the day he was attacked by a large alligator in the Cooper River. William Georgitis said he was collecting fossils when he was attacked and dragged to the bottom of the river.

“[I] put my arm up defensively and he grabbed hold of it. I mean, he was huge. I don’t even know how big he was because I was just right there. He felt massive,” he recalled. “I knew his first move once he grabbed me was to roll me. So, I bear-hugged him. I wrapped my arm around his head and my legs around his neck.”

He suffered serious injuries to his arm.

It was a shocking turn of events when Charleston Police revealed two young women were struck and killed by two drivers, both of which fled the scene, on Morrison Drive. Lizzy Zito and Arianna Gamber were walking along the downtown road when they were first hit by Seth Carlson and then Max Gentilin. A citizen called 911 hours later reporting two victims unresponsive in the roadway. Both men were eventually arrested and face charges connected to the crash.

MAY

An iconic home that stood just off Breach Inlet on Sullivan’s Island for more than 40 years was demolished in early May. Sullivan’s Island Planning Director, Charles Drayton, said the home was sitting vacant in disrepair and needed to be rebuilt because of damage inside.

Major technical issues hit the Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant. The issues kept trucks from arriving at the port, or unloading their containers, for a few days. A massive line of 18-wheelers was seen along I-526 waiting to enter the port once service and functions were restored. Port officials say the problem was connected to software issues that impacted a server.

A monkey named Bradley who escaped his Colleton County habitat caused quite the commotion in late May. The 15-year-old Japanese Macaque left his Walterboro home and was spotted around the community. Unfortunately, Bradley was shot and killed by a homeowner.

JUNE

A container ship lost control of its engines and prompted an evacuation of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in early June. The ship, a 997-foot, 74,000-ton container vessel known as the MSC Michigan 7, did not strike the bridge, but its wake caused damage around Charleston Harbor. The ship was docked for days amid an investigation into the issue.

Later in the month, a “downburst” during a severe thunderstorm caused significant damage in the Summerville area. The storm damaged numerous trees, homes, and property.

JULY

Tragedy struck the Summerville community on the Fourth of July. A man dressed as Uncle Sam, who appeared to be showing off, placed a lit firework on the top of his head in the Crestwood subdivision. The firework exploded, causing a massive head injury, and killed the man.

An undercover operation at Northwoods Mall busted a shoplifting ring. Four people were arrested following the multi-day investigation over items stolen from Bath and Bodyworks. North Charleston detectives set up a sting operation which helped them catch the thieves in the act.

The owner of a longtime and popular Moncks Corner barbecue restaurant passed away in July. Gene Cribb, who owned Music Man’s BBQ, died at his home surrounded by family. Hundreds of customers spent the following days sharing kind words and offering condolences to the family and restaurant.

A North Charleston Public Works employee was shot and killed while on the job. North Charleston police responded to a shots fired call and found a crashed sanitation truck on Dorchester Road. The employee, 26-year-old Da’Twan Gatling, died at Trident Hospital. The man accused of his killing, Tyrell Lamont Smith, was later arrested in New York.

AUGUST

Tropical Storm Debby lashed the area in early August. The storm, which lingered for days, brought tornadoes, heavy rain, and significant flooding to much of the area. Many homes along rivers had to be evacuated because of rising water, and a flash flood emergency was issued in Moncks Corner due to moving water.

A 25-million-year-old fossil was found a few weeks later. Charleston paleontologists excavated one of their biggest discoveries, a dolphin fossil that was uncovered in Summerville.

SEPTEMBER

Hurricane Helene caused significant damage in South Carolina after striking Florida as a major hurricane. The storm brought down trees in the Upstate and brought massive flooding to western North Carolina.

An 18-wheeler carrying a military vehicle was struck by a train at a Goose Creek railroad crossing. Police said the truck, with what was referred to as a “low boy” trailer, was carrying a military vehicle when it got stuck while attempting to drive over the train crossing. An oncoming train then smashed into the vehicle and damaged the crossing.

The Naval Weapons Station went into lockdown in mid-September as law enforcement responded to a hostage situation. Officials said a suspect barricaded himself inside a home while armed with a gun. A child was also inside the home. The situation was later resolved, and the suspect was found with life-threatening injuries.

OCTOBER

A days-long strike at the ports was resolved in early October. Dockworkers, striking over wages and the use of automation, reached a deal and the strike came to an end. News 2 was there then the local International Longshoremen’s Association workers received the news.

News 2’s investigators looked into the reasons for a wave of restaurant closures in the community. Almost a dozen local bars and restaurants closed their doors over a two-month period, citing numerous challenges like the rising cost of food and rent.

In late October, International Paper announced the permanent closing of its Georgetown Pulp and Paper Mill, which was projected to impact 600-700 workers. The mill closed just before the December holidays.

NOVEMBER

We spent more time with escaped monkeys in the Lowcountry. This time, 43 rhesus macaque primates broke free from the Alpha Genisis research facility in Yemassee. Police said the monkeys mostly stayed near the facility. Most of the monkeys were eventually recovered – only a few remain loose.

Boeing announced plans to layoff roughly 10% of its workforce in mid-November, which amounted to nearly 17,000 employees across the country, and over 200 workers in Charleston. The layoffs are effective Jan. 17, 2025.

A fight between two men on King Street led to a deadly officer-involved shooting. Officers responded to a report of two men fighting, and when they arrived, one of the men pulled out a gun. The agency later released body camera footage showing the incident.

DECEMBER

The Lowcountry mourned the passing of two icons in December. First, we learned about the passing of Mike Edwards, a longtime Charleston radio host who was best known for his role a “Mike the Guy” on the 2 Girls and a Guy morning show.

Shortly after the Christmas holiday, we learned that Timothy Grainger, known to many as “Timbo,” had passed away. Timbo sold his hot-boiled peanuts in West Ashley for more than 30 years. He lost both kidneys years ago, and was receiving dialysis as he awaited a donation.

And the internet went wild when the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office shared video of an Amazon worker accused of stealing a UPS package while making a delivery before the Christmas holiday.

TOP TEN MOST-CLICKED STORIES ON COUNTON2.COM IN 2024

NUMBER 10: West Ashley man attacked by alligator while collecting fossils

William Georgitis was diving for fossils in April when he was attacked by a large alligator and dragged to the bottom of the Cooper River, where he says he ran out of air.

NUMBER 9: Escaped monkey shot by homeowner

Bradley, a 15-year-old Japanese macaque, who escaped his Walterboro habitat and avoided being caught for days, was eventually shot by a homeowner.

NUMBER 8: Beloved Charleston radio host Mike Edwards, of “Two Girls and a Guy,” has died, radio station said

Longtime Charleston radio host Mike Edwards, known as “Mike the Guy” on the “Two Girls and a Guy” radio show, died while at his West Ashley home in early December.

NUMBER 7: You could own a refurbished World War II-era bunker on Sullivan’s Island

A one-of-a-kind home on Sullivan’s Island was listed for sale over the summer. A World War II-era bunker that sits on a half-acre lot was converted into a home with a concrete exterior.

NUMBER 6: Local ILA says port strike is over

A days-long strike at the ports was resolved in early October. Dockworkers, striking over wages and the use of automation, reached a deal and the strike came to an end. News 2 was there then the local International Longshoremen’s Association workers received the news.

NUMBER 5: ‘So terrified for his safety’: Charleston family searching for answers after man disappears while vacationing in Mexico

A family searched for answers after a Charleston man, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, went missing while on vacation in Mexico. Edmond Solomon was on a Caribbean cruise with his wife when the two got separated in Cozumel, Mexico, and was not seen again. The search for Solomon eventually turned into a recovery effort.

NUMBER 4: Summerville officer dragged by vehicle after altercation in Chick-fil-A parking lot

An off-duty Summerville officer, Anthony DeLustro, was arrested and eventually charged with murder following an altercation in the parking lot of a Chick-fil-A on North Main Street. Videos showed DeLustro engaging in a confrontation with the victim, Michael O’Neal, before shooting and killing him.

NUMBER 3: Summerville man dies after placing lit firework on his head during Fourth of July neighborhood party

A man dressed as Uncle Sam, who appeared to be showing off, placed a lit firework on the top of his head in the Crestwood subdivision. The firework exploded, causing a massive head injury, and killed the man.

NUMBER 2: How much of the April 8 solar eclipse will Charleston see?

Another solar eclipse was seen in the skies above Charleston last spring. While the Lowcountry was not in the path of totality, many were able to see the phenomenon when the moon crossed in front of the sun.

NUMBER 1: Mount Pleasant man wrestles coyote, saves dog from attack

Video of a coyote attack went viral in January. The video, first shared with News 2, showed a Mount Pleasant man wrestling a coyote to save his dog from being attacked. The man got control of the animal and placed it into a nearby dumpster, keeping his small dog, Roxie, safe.