A South Carolina man, Chavas Rhodes, is facing serious charges after allegedly threatening to kill his three young children and shooting the family’s dog in a horrifying incident early Tuesday morning. Rhodes, 30, was arrested and is now being held without bond at the Al Cannon Detention Center.
Chilling Threats and Animal Cruelty
The incident took place around 12:30 a.m. at an apartment on Dorchester Road in North Charleston, where Rhodes reportedly entered the home uninvited while his partner was outside.
According to police reports, Rhodes yelled to his children, “All of you are going to die tonight.” His three children, all under the age of 10, were left terrified by his violent threats.
Two of the children ran and hid under a bed in fear, while the family’s chihuahua, Logan, began barking at Rhodes. In response, Rhodes allegedly shot and killed the dog. This act of cruelty heightened the children’s terror, with one of them later seen crying when they saw the lifeless body of their pet.
Abduction Attempt and Intimidation
After shooting the dog, Rhodes reportedly went into the bedroom and ordered the children to leave with him. One of the children took the opportunity to run out of the apartment and seek help. Rhodes then covered the two remaining children with a blanket and attempted to force them into a closet.
While in the closet, one of the children managed to call their mother, who rushed back to the apartment. According to the affidavit, Rhodes threatened her with a gun before jumping off a balcony and fleeing the scene.
Rhodes’ Arrest and Charges
Rhodes was eventually caught by police, who found the firearm used in the shooting in nearby bushes. Officers also noted that he appeared to be intoxicated during his arrest. Rhodes faces multiple charges, including burglary, kidnapping, animal cruelty, and unlawful conduct toward a child.
The mother of the children had previously obtained a domestic violence injunction against Rhodes, who the family has described as being a source of deep fear.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
At a court hearing on Tuesday, a victim’s advocate informed the judge that the mother and children are “deathly terrified” of Rhodes. The court has yet to determine further legal action, but Rhodes remains behind bars awaiting future hearings.
