According to police report, homeowner in Horry County was attacked by a group of teenagers

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – Residents of a Horry County neighborhood are speaking out about ongoing safety concerns plaguing their community.

Homeowners in the Brighton Woods neighborhood said they have been terrorized by a group of violent teenagers for years, but some told News13 the latest incident was the last straw after a group of about 6 to 10 teenagers allegedly attacked a homeowner in his own front yard, causing a fractured skull.

Video taken on the day of the incident shows the large group of teenagers running up and down a normally quiet street, screaming.

Horry County police reports obtained by News13 indicate that the disturbances began on the afternoon of May 11, when the victim, Michael Stefans, said he saw the group of children outside and told them to leave.

The Ring camera footage shows a verbal argument lasting about a minute. The video stops shortly before the alleged attack in which Stefans suffered a skull fracture.

Some neighbors told News13 they saw one of the children waving what looked like a gun.

Then neighbor Andy Kingsley took matters into his own hands and pursued the fleeing teenagers.

“I just hoped they didn’t point the gun at me. I used to be in the military and I never want to hurt anyone. I always want to help everyone,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone is OK. This neighborhood is my home. I don’t want my children to have their childhood robbed because it’s just too dangerous to go outside.”

Kingsley said when he caught up with some of the teenagers, he ordered them to hand over the gun if they had one.

“Then they tried to run away and I followed them. He fumbled with his gun and gave it to his sister. His sister ran through the woods to the neighboring community of Victoria Stations,” he said. “I don’t know if she threw it away there, but we had the police come to look for it.”

According to police reports, the teen claimed it was a $25 air pistol he bought from Amazon, but the gun could not be found, so it could not be determined if it was real or fake.

“We believe she took the gun home and hid it. But I had the guys who had the gun. I finally stopped them and they talked to me,” Kingsley said. “I asked them, ‘Why are you doing this?’ And their first reaction was, ‘Well, the guy touched me,’ and I said, ‘In his own house. You went into his house? So what are you doing?'”

Kingsley said he wanted to make other communities aware of such situations.

“I don’t want anyone to feel unsafe in their neighborhood, let alone their home. I’m just doing the only thing I’m doing, which is raising awareness that these things are happening, and that maybe the right people in the right places that we elect and put in leadership positions will respond to it and take care of the people who choose to live here,” he said.

The three youths arrested and charged with assault must appear in court on June 6.