Charleston felon arrested for illegal ammunition possession following violent Fourth of July block party (DOJ)

CHARLESTON, S.C. -According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Dejuan Ravenel, 21, of Charleston, has been charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, on July 4, 2026, North Charleston Police officers responded to a large disturbance on Spruill Avenue. While NCPD officers and officers from assisting law enforcement agencies were attempting to disperse the crowd and restore order, several individuals, including juveniles, became combative and physically assaulted responding officers.

While one officer was being violently assaulted by multiple juveniles, their department-issued taser and two firearm magazines, each containing 13 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, became dislodged and unsecured from their duty holster. Following the assault, law enforcement was unable to locate the officer's taser or loaded firearm magazines.

Investigators reviewed body worn camera and surveillance footage and identified Ravenel taking the taser and magazines. Officers arrested Ravenel and during a search of his home located the taser and magazines.

Ravenel has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. At the time of the crime, Ravenel was on probation for a previous conviction and out on bonds for possession of stolen vehicle, possession of stolen gun, financial transaction card theft, and receiving stolen goods from a December 2024 incident and burglary 2^nd degree from September 2025.

"Federal investigators, assisted by SLED task force officers, immediately assisted with this multi-agency investigation and found the appropriate charge to bring against Ravenel, whose actions as convicted felon were a violation of federal law," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "The U.S. Attorney's Office and our federal law enforcement partners will resolutely support our local law enforcement in keeping our communities safe."

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Ravenel faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carra Henderson is prosecuting the case.

All charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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