Retired Isle of Palms Police Chief James B. Arnold was involved in a violent incident at the residence of his estranged wife, Myrtle Beach traffic court judge Brana Williams, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on May 28, 2024. The confrontation concluded with Arnold’s suicide.
Williams informed authorities that Arnold forcefully entered her Chapel Ridge Circle home near Saint James High School at approximately 2 a.m., wielding a firearm. Williams, her boyfriend Brian Shives, and her two youngest sons were present at the time. Shives stated that he engaged Arnold, managing to dislodge the magazine from the firearm, but not without receiving multiple punches and chest lacerations in the process.
Shives relayed, “I saw she had two younger sons that had a hold of his arms, and I see the gun so, I jumped over… jumped up and stuck my finger behind the trigger.” He further stated that Arnold hit him repeatedly and attempted to discharge the firearm by striking Shives’ chest. Eventually, Shives bit Arnold’s finger which forced him to release his grip and exit the residence.
Williams, who had been married to Arnold for 23 years before initiating divorce proceedings, also suffered minor injuries during the incident. The pair had six adopted children, all of whom are below the age of 20.
After departing from the location, Arnold was pursued by law enforcement. He returned to his Chapel Ridge Circle home where he fatally shot himself in the driveway. The incident has triggered shock amongst family and community members, many of whom have expressed their condolences for the affected children.
A relative noted that tension had been mounting, particularly after one of Arnold’s daughters confided feeling uneasy following an inappropriate remark from Shives. This could have amplified the emotional intensity leading up to the confrontation.
Local resident Jake McPherson, who spent his childhood playing with the couple’s children, expressed his profound regret for them, stating, “It’s unbelievable, and I feel deeply sorry for the children. They don’t deserve this situation. They already had a difficult family life, which only worsens things for them.”
