WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Three women accused of attacking Upstate reporter

Three women accused of attacking Upstate reporter

UNION, SC (WIS) - Three women were arrested Tuesday afternoon at the scene of a death investigation after they were caught on camera attacking a female news reporter.

Several news crews were at the scene in Union, South Carolina, when the confrontation began.

It started after the family of a murder victim demanded that news crews leave the scene, though at the time, all of the news people were on the street or on public sidewalks.

A large crowd formed quickly as the confrontation escalated.

One of the women punched WSPA reporter Charmayne Brown, who then tried to defend herself.

The attack ended up with Brown on the ground being repeatedly punched by the women as some of those in the crowd tried to pull them off.

Brown left the scene and went to the police station to file a report.

She appeared battered and bruised, but was not bleeding.

Two of the women who were charged are related to the man who has been charged in the death that police were investigating.

Police have charged the suspect's mother, Trina Vinson, 48, and Tousha Smith, 31, who is the suspect's sister, with assault and battery.

Smith is facing two counts, because police said she assaulted both the reporter and a photographer.

Billie Taylor, 31, is also charged with assault and battery.

On Tuesday morning residents of the neighborhood said that they were shocked to learn that their neighbor, Tommy Howell, 73, was found dead in his home.

Police said that they later learned that Howell had gotten into an argument with his grandson, 33-year-old Michael Shane Howell, at about 11pm.

While arguing, Howell struck his grandfather and left the house, police said.

Investigators said that Michael Howell called a family friend on Tuesday morning and said that someone had broken into his grandfather's house.

When officers went to the home, they found Tommy Howell dead inside.

They said the investigation led them to the grandson.

Michael Howell is charged with murder.

Neighbors said that Tommy Howell was friendly and popular in the neighborhood, and they were shocked to think that the man who would greet them while sitting on his porch swing was the victim of a homicide.

Posted by Chantelle Janelle