NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A North Myrtle Beach police officer is recovering from a gunshot wound after a suspect shot him in the foot Sunday night, according to Police Chief J. Phillip Webster.
At least three officers were responding to a call on Bellamy Rd. near U.S. Hwy. 17 and Newport Dr. when the shooting happened, Webster said. They arrived at a home on Bellamy Rd.just after 11 p.m. The area is an unincorporated section of Horry County, which is completely surrounded by North Myrtle Beach. So North Myrtle Beach responded at the request of Horry County Police, Webster explained.
When the officers arrived, a man fired a gun at the officers, Webster said. Officers shot back, and a bullet from the man’s gun hit an officer in the foot.
Lt. Raul Denis with Horry County Police identifies the shooter as 52 year-old Earnail Michael Godbold, of North Myrtle Beach. Lt. Denis says after Godbold fired the shots, he got in a pick-up truck and drove down Hwy. 17 until North Myrtle Beach Police officers stopped him and arrested him near 8th Ave. N.
North Myrtle Beach Public Information Officer Pat Dowling said the initial call was related to a domestic dispute. A mother and daughter immediately came out to greet the officers, and Godbold, the husband and father in the household, fired at officers. Dowling said Godbold reportedly suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Godbold has been booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and charged with domestic violence first degree, assault and battery first degree, three counts of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by prohibited person, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Lt. Denis says in an effort to secure the firearm used by Godbold, some of his property was seized and transported to the Horry County Police Department, pending the appropriate search warrants. After the search warrants were obtained and Godbold’s property was examined, officers found that the property included items that were potentially explosive. That discovery called for “a temporary restriction of movement at the rear of HCPD property and employees were advised to stay away from that area,” explains Lt. Denis.
Bomb Squad Technicians rendered the devices safe and everyone returned to work after a couple of hours, says Lt. Denis.
The officer who was shot was taken to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released. Webster said the officer would be on medical leave for an undetermined amount of time.
