South Carolina: Andrew Lanzaro charged with reckless homicide in death of Justin Plumlee; possible hate crime as driver charged with running down two people after leaving bar

Andrew Lanzaro DUI Folly Beach SC Police Dept. 090314

Andrew Lanzaro DUI Folly Beach SC Police Dept. 090314

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — Andrew R. “Andy” Lanzaro, charged with reckless homicide for killing one of two persons whom police say he ran over after leaving a bar in Folly Beach, S.C., is originally from Fairfax County, Va. According to the court records of Virginia, Andrew Robert Lanzaro was charged with reckless driving on Jan. 19, 2010 and found guilty in Fairfax County District Court. Lanzaro was found guilty and fined $100.
From WCSC
FOLLY BEACH, SC (09/03/2014) – A 31-year-old man accused in a fatal hit-and-run in Folly Beach on Saturday was arrested a few months ago for driving under the influence.According to court records, on July 9, Andrew Lanzaro was arrested for driving under the influence, narcotics and simple possession of marijuana. He was released on a $26,642 bond.Court records state Lanzaro was also arrested on July 18 for public drunkenness, and was released.
From WCSC
FOLLY BEACH, SC (09/03/2014) – Officials with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office say they are investigating what led to a fatal hit and run on Folly Beach, including the possibility that this may be a hate crime.A sheriff’s office spokesman said authorities are interviewing people about a possible altercation at a local bar before the weekend accident.The accident happened on West Ashley Avenue on Folly Beach around 2 a.m. on Saturday. One man was killed, and another is still in the hospital.
Andrew Lanzaro, 31, was arrested for the incident and charged with reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury in connection with the early Saturday morning incident that took the life of 29-year-old Justin Plumlee. Lanzaro’s bond was set at $300,000.The sheriff’s office say a traffic unit responded to West Ashley Avenue around 2:15 a.m. Saturday morning to investigate a report of a hit-and-run involving a car and two pedestrians.

Justin Plumlee killed by Andrew Lanzaro in Folly Beach SC 090314

Deputies say the two pedestrians were walking down West Ashley Avenue between 2nd and 3rd street when a 2004 Honda CRV swerved off the road and struck them both; Plumlee later died at the hospital, and the second victim remains in the hospital in fair condition.

Deputies say the driver then fled from the scene.

Lanzaro was arrested at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Deputies say his car was located by the Folly Beach Police Department at his residence.

The vehicle had severe front end damage to the windshield and to the drivers side headlight, according to deputies.

Obituary and Services for Justin Plumlee

Born September 14, 1984 in High Point, Justin was the son of Gary and Terri Plumlee. He was a birthright Quaker and was a member of Marlboro Friends Meeting. Justin graduated from Randleman High School in 2002 and from Guilford College in 2010 where he majored in history and minored in religion. A devout Christian, Justin spent several summers as a counselor at Quaker Lake Camp fulfilling his passion for helping young people find the Lord. During this time, Justin also served as Chairperson of the Young Adult Committee for Yearly Meeting. Most recently, he worked as a Media Assistant at Randleman Middle School and served as assistant coach on the School’s baseball team. Justin received the honor of Employee of the Year at Randleman Middle School for the 2013-2014 school year. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved trout fishing, mountain biking, and hiking. Justin also enjoyed all sports and was a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox and Manchester United. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Cecil “Whitey” and Vada Plumlee, and his maternal grandparents, James Hanson and Linda Hanson Sellers.

JUSTIN PLUMLEE WAS NORTH CAROLINA MIDDLE SCHOOL BASEBALL COACH

Ryan Daniels injured by reckless Andrew Lanzaro in Charleston SC

Was this an intentional act?

Injured in what may have been an intentional act on the part of Andrew Lanzaro, was Ryan Daniels, 29, of Washington, D.C.  Daniels was in Charleston for the bachelor party of a friend, Drew Sykes, in the role of best man while Plumlee was a groomsman.  The police are investigating reports of a dispute inside the bar between the group and Lanzaro.  Daniels was seriously injured. He went to college in North Carolina and worked on the Obama campaign and then in private industry until last year when he was hired as press secretary for the U. S. Department of Transportation.  His Facebook page shows that he ‘liked’ a gay men’s dance club in Washington.
From Folly Beach Police Department
FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (Sept. 3, 2014) — We had a hit and run this morning (8/30/14) just before 2 am in the 200 block of W. Ashley. A speeding car hit two pedestrians in a group that was walking, and did not stop.The suspect is a white male unknown age, driving a early to mid 2000’s Honda SUV (possibly CRV).The suspect SUV had a spare tire on the rear with a cover that said “HONDA.”The car was a lighter shade of silver or gold. Honda does have a champagne color that could be construed as both.There should be two large dents on the hood, with damage to the headlight/s and or turn signals. Unsure if the windshield was cracked in the collision. After striking the pedestrians, the driver sped away and ran the red light at Center and Ashley to leave the island.Please keep an eye out for the suspect vehicle. Charleston County traffic unit is handling the crash investigation. Obviously we will supplement when and where we can to ensure that we find the suspect.Two pedestrians are severely injured, one of which we are unsure whether or not he will survive. As of 5:30am we still do not have an update on his status from the hospital. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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