Charmaine Brown, or Charmayne Brown (biography), is a 12-year veteran black reporter of News Channel 7 (WSPA-TV) in South Carolina. Charmaine Brown and photographer Ti Barnes were attacked by the murder suspect's four family members when they were covering the scene of a homicide investigation in Union county. From WSPA
Charmayne says she was across the street from the victim’s house when family members began yelling at her to leave. Charmayne says the group was also yelling racial slurs at her and her photographer. Read News Channel 7's look at race relations in SC. She says one of the women in the group then rushed at her, punched her and dragged her to the ground. She says at that point it’s hard for her to recall what was going on, but News Channel 7’s Satellite truck operator Ray Daubenspeck says he also saw the woman punching her. He called 911, picked up a camera and began recording video. Charmayne says at least two other people joined in on the attack as her photographer tried to pull them off of her.
Reporter Charmaine Brown
Charmayne says, "I just had to try to defend myself. People were coming from everywhere." Click here to listen to Union Police Chief explain lynching
She continued, "It was an uneasy situation for the both of us, trying to fight off a mob attacking us." Click Here to listen to Charmayne's interview on WORD Radio.
Charmayne had an opportunity Wednesday to talk about the incident to our viewers and address what happened, how she feels and the support that she has received. Click here to hear Charmayne respond
Photographer Ti Barnes said, "We weren't there harassing anybody. We were there to find the facts."
The murder suspect is Michael Howell, who was alleged of killing 73-year-old Tommy Howell Monday night during an argument.
The Union county police has made four arrests, they are Billie Taylor, Tousha Smith, Trina Vinson and Ronald Harris (see picture below).