In North Charleston, South Carolina, what began as a city backed Fourth of July celebration rapidly degenerated into violent bedlam that put both residents and police officers in danger.

Newly released 911 recordings show neighbors warning of gunfire, armed teens and what one caller described as a scene resembling a “full out war” before officers arrived and were attacked while trying to restore order.

The recordings obtained from Charleston County Dispatch reveal a community pleading for help as fireworks turned to gunshots in the Chicora Cherokee neighborhood.

Around 8:30 p.m., panic spread through the area as hundreds gathered for what was supposed to be a block party.

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Several residents called police in desperation, describing guns in the open, people firing into the air and at each other, and a crowd that was getting out of control.

One early caller told the emergency operator that “everybody got guns,” adding, “we need the police out here bad.”

The caller said a blue Dodge Charger was parked near a bus stop where armed individuals were congregating, a sure sign of trouble.

By the time officers were dispatched, the gathering had swollen to hundreds of people, many of whom ignored repeated requests to disperse.

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Another caller warned that the situation had turned into all out conflict.

“I called 45 minutes ago and asked to have officers come out here to break up a group of kids with firearms,” the caller said.

“Now there’s like a full out war going on outside my front door.”

That same person later told dispatchers they could see muzzle flashes from the window as shots rang out across the neighborhood.

By the time police arrived, dispatch logs show more than 500 people gathered in the streets.

Officers called for every available unit to help as the night spun into full chaos.

At least two officers were later attacked by the crowd, with one female officer seen on viral video being pulled to the ground while she attempted to detain a suspect.

“Get the strap,” one neighbor recalled hearing before more gunfire echoed through the area.

Another frightened resident said they saw teenagers firing a handgun into the ground from across the street and then stashing the weapon in a waistband.

The calls painted a disturbing picture of a neighborhood on edge, residents cowering in their homes as the gunfire came closer.

One caller confessed to arming himself while waiting for law enforcement.

“I have my gun in my hand. If they come on my property, I will kill somebody,” he said, reporting that he had counted at least 20 to 30 shots nearby.

Many residents had already called police earlier in the evening complaining about firearms being discharged, but by that point the violence had escalated beyond control.

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As tensions mounted, officers were told not to respond alone, a protocol usually reserved for high risk situations.

When police finally began clearing the streets, multiple fights broke out again and more shots were fired, escalating the danger both to officers and the public they were trying to protect.

Authorities later said multiple officers were assaulted during the melee, including two women who sustained minor injuries.

Video from the night shows several people punching and kicking one of the officers as she struggled to take a suspect into custody.

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In the aftermath, police displayed a disturbing array of evidence, including firearms, extended magazines, a so called machine gun and even a crude homemade spear.

Six people, including four minors, were charged in the attack, and investigators have warned that more arrests may follow.

Police said the entire episode began with reports of people shooting fireworks at passing vehicles until several individuals started firing actual guns into the crowd.

That moment transformed a neighborhood celebration into a dangerous riot that could have easily ended with multiple fatalities.

The scene stands as yet another example of how quickly mob behavior can overwhelm law enforcement when order breaks down.

A simple community event backed by the city turned into a nightmare for residents who had been trying to celebrate the holiday peacefully inside their homes.

Instead, they spent the night listening to gunshots and wondering when officers would finally be able to regain control.

Many residents are now demanding stronger police presence during community events and tougher crackdowns on illegal firearms.

Others question why it took so long for the city to intervene once things clearly spiraled out of control.

Local authorities have since said the investigation is ongoing and that separate internal reviews are being conducted regarding how the event was managed.

The chaos in North Charleston adds to a growing number of violent incidents across the country during public events.

Politicians may talk endlessly about addressing gun crime, yet these same communities too often see city leaders unwilling to back robust police action until it is too late.

As these officers learned the hard way, law enforcement cannot protect neighborhoods where law itself has already broken down.

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