Charleston police are investigating a fatal shooting that left one person dead early Saturday morning in West Ashley.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire on Tripe Street around 12:30 a.m. and found a vehicle in the roadway with a person shot multiple times inside, according to the Charleston Police Department.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the victim’s identity pending notification of family members.

The shooting occurred in a residential area of West Ashley that has seen sporadic violent crime in recent years. Tripe Street runs between Ashley River Road and Magnolia Road, cutting through a mix of single-family homes and small businesses.

Charleston Police spokesman Charles Francis said investigators are canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and reviewing any available surveillance footage from nearby properties.

“We are asking anyone who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in the area around midnight to contact our detectives,” Francis said.

The homicide marks Charleston’s fourth confirmed murder case this year, according to police records. Last year, the city recorded 12 homicides, down from 15 in 2022.

West Ashley, Charleston’s largest geographic area by population, has grappled with public safety concerns as rapid development has outpaced infrastructure improvements. City Council members have repeatedly pressed Charleston Police Chief Chito Walker about response times and patrol coverage in the area during budget hearings.

The peninsula-based police department has struggled to maintain adequate coverage across Charleston’s sprawling boundaries, which include West Ashley, Johns Island, and James Island. Walker has requested additional officers and a new West Ashley substation in recent Politics & Government budget discussions.

Saturday’s shooting comes as Charleston Mayor William Cogswell prepares his 2024 budget proposal, which is expected to include increased public safety funding. City Council approved a 3.2 percent increase in police department funding last year, adding six new patrol positions.

Detectives from the Charleston Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division are leading the homicide investigation. The Charleston County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police cordoned off a section of Tripe Street for several hours Saturday morning while crime scene technicians processed evidence. The roadway reopened around 8 a.m.

Neighbors described hearing multiple gunshots but said they initially thought the sounds might have been fireworks. Several residents said they called 911 after realizing the severity of the situation.

“I heard what sounded like four or five pops in quick succession,” said Maria Rodriguez, who lives two blocks from the scene. “When I looked out my window, I could see police lights everywhere.”

The shooting occurred in Charleston Police Zone 4, which covers most of West Ashley. Department data shows the zone recorded 847 calls for service in the past month, ranging from traffic stops to domestic disputes.

Charleston County has seen 23 homicides this year across all jurisdictions, including cases handled by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and smaller municipal departments. The county recorded 31 homicides in all of 2023.

Anyone with information about Saturday’s shooting is asked to contact Charleston Police at 843-743-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests in homicide cases.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Police have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects in connection with the shooting.