Dorchester County Man Charged with Four Counts of Attempted Murder

A Dorchester County man is behind bars, without bond following a dispute over a lawn mower that turned violent.

Dorchester County Deputies say they responded to Lakesville Road near Church Creek for a reported assault on Monday. They learned that 23-year-old Joseph Danny Baker II had become involved in a physical altercation with a male victim that came to the residence to retrieve his lawn mower. Baker went into the residence and retrieved a shotgun, firing it in the air near the victim and three other people, who retreated to their vehicle in an effort to leave the residence. When they attempted to drive away, the suspect fired another shot, striking the vehicle on the passenger side, while all four victims were inside.

Baker was arrested and charged with four counts of First Degree Assault, 4 counts of Second Degree Assault, 4 counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder, 4 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, 4 counts of Wearing and Carrying a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to do Harm, 4 counts of Reckless Endangerment and Malicious Destruction of Property over 500 dollars. He was ordered held without bond at the Dorchester County Detention Center.