The chaos that erupted during a Fourth of July block party in North Charleston's Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood has been documented in newly released 911 calls.
The recordings, obtained by Fox News Digital, reveal multiple residents calling dispatchers shortly before 8:30 p.m. as the city-permitted party began to spiral out of control.
One of the earliest callers warned dispatchers that armed people had gathered near Calvert Street and North Carolina Avenue, telling a 911 operator, "Everybody got guns," before pleading, "We need the police out here bad. They need to come out here."
As officers responded, another resident described the situation rapidly deteriorating after having already contacted authorities.
"I called 45 minutes ago and asked to have officers come out here to break up a group of kids with firearms, and now there's like a full-out war going on outside my f------ front door," the caller told a dispatcher.
Dispatch logs show officers more than 500 people at the gathering while requesting every available unit to help disperse the crowd.
One caller seeing what appeared to be muzzle flashes described the scene as, "It looked like they were f------ shooting at each other and running in opposite directions."
Another resident in the area told dispatchers that one person in the crowd shouted, "Get the strap," before the caller heard gunfire moments later.
"I came inside and about 10 seconds later I heard three gunshots," the caller said. "I need officers over here please."
As the situation escalated, residents began to fear for their safety, with one caller telling dispatchers they had armed themselves while waiting for officers to arrive.
"I have my gun in my hand. If they come on my property I will kill somebody," the caller said, noting that he heard 20 to 30 shots. "I have on camera several individuals. We've been calling all night about this. We need people posted out here."
Police responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m. after reports of people firing fireworks toward passing vehicles, and later, firearms.
As officers attempted to disperse the crowd, multiple fights broke out and additional gunfire was reported, prompting officers to leave their patrol vehicles to restore order.
Multiple officers were assaulted during the response, including two female officers who suffered minor injuries.
Investigators recovered multiple firearms, including what police described as a machine gun, along with a makeshift spear.
Six people — including four juveniles — have since been charged in connection with the incident, though police said the investigation remains active and additional arrests are possible.
