Affidavits: Sullivan’s Island hit-and-run suspect threatened his mother with knife before targeting children on playground

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – Affidavits from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office provided new details Friday about a hit-and-run on Sullivan’s Island that injured two children and a teacher.

The incident began shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday when Justin Collin Adams threatened his 67-year-old mother with a knife while inside her vehicle.

Documents show Adams was in the back seat of the black Chevrolet Malibu, acquired a knife, and threatened to cut his mother’s face. “The victim was in fear for her life and exited the vehicle and ran away,” affidavits stated.

Soon after, authorities say Adams took the car without permission, drove a short distance, and entered the parking lot at Sunrise Presbyterian School at a high rate of speed.

Adams accelerated into a playground that was occupied by multiple juveniles and hit a 12-year-old male with the vehicle. The child was injured and taken to a local hospital.

The suspect is then accused of leaving the playground while speeding as the children ran for the building. Authorities said Adams “appeared to chase the children as they ran.”

Affidavits say the vehicle approached the building’s sidewalk without slowing down and hit a teacher, who was thrown over the hood and roof of the vehicle. She was also taken to a local hospital with injuries.

Adams continued driving after hitting the teacher. He struck a concrete curb after leaving the parking lot and then entered the sidewalk where students were running from the vehicle and struck a 10-year-old, who was then pinned under the vehicle.

The airbags deployed, and the vehicle stopped with the child underneath. Adams then ran from the vehicle and hid in a boat docked behind a home near Breach Inlet. He was found after an hours-long manhunt involving 130 law enforcement personnel and taken into custody.

Officials with the sheriff’s office said Adams was found by pilots in the Air 1 Chopper. He was interviewed and then taken to the Charleston County Detention Center.

“[Our son] told us God told him to duck at the last minute as the car ran over him, and that’s why he is alive right now,” parents of the 10-year-old victim said following a Friday morning bond hearing.

Adams, 36, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree assault and battery. He was denied bond on the attempted murder charges during Friday’s bond hearing.

He must appear before a circuit court judge at a later date. Adams was also ordered to have no contact with the victims, their families, and is forbidden to return within a 5-mile radius of the incident location.

Law enforcement said all three victims are expected to recover.