Deputy Kills Suicidal Man
A 50-year-old man died Monday morning after being shot by a deputy.
A reportedly suicidal man was shot and killed by a Greenville County Sheriff's deputy Monday morning.
Laura Campbell, public information officer for the GCSO, said deputies were called to a home at 22 Lermann Drive at 6:59 a.m. Monday in response to a "family disturbance" at the residence, located near White Horse Road and South Fairfield Road.
Campbell said a man inside the home was threatening to kill himself.
"The suspect was said to be threatening a family members and himself and had armed himself with a rifle," Campbell said. "Deputies arrived on scene at 7:16 a.m. and after safely removing the family member from the home uniform patrol deputies approached the suspect. The suspect, while still in possession of the firearm, turned toward deputies. Feeling his life was in danger one deputy fired at the suspect striking him."
Kent Dill, deputy coroner at the Greenville County Coroner's Office, identified the man as 50-year-old Patrick O'Neal Starks, and confirmed he died at Greenville Memorial Hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Per policy, the deputy involved in the shooting, whose identity has yet to be released, has been placed on administrative duty while the shooting is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
D. Dantzler
1:40 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
That's sad to hear, but not unusual. There have been many people who choose to do the "suicide by cop" option. I feel sorry for the police officer involved with the shooting. He now has to undergo such scrutiny because that man put him into a position of having a gun pointed at him and probably threats, etc...
Jean B McAllister
9:06 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
That cop is a trigger happy fool and was not trained properly. Typical South Carolina redneck.
Jean B McAllister
9:08 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
I knew Pat. He would not heve killed anyone but himself. He did enough of that in Iraq. Yes he was a military man.He had medical problems for blod clots which probrobly originated from the work he did and exposure. I don't feel sorry at all for that cop. Fire him. It was incorrect procedeure.
D. Dantzler
8:58 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Well, unless you were actually there, how would you know? I'm sure if you were there, being that you say you know the man, you could have talked to him and got him to put the gun down. Right? Or perhaps he made a decision and knew good and well what the consequences would be for turning towards a cop with a gun.
Kylie Morgan
2:01 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I couldnt agree with you more D. Dantzler. Shame on you Jean B McAlister for calling the cop a trigger happy fool! Do you realize how ignorant you sound by saying that?! Not one of us can say what the right or wrong choice was or should have been. Regardless if you know someone well or not, no one person will ever 100% know the mental status of a person. The suspect could have been at the end of his rope and yet you want to call the cop a fool? Nothing fires me up more than when loud mouth "citizens" like to call cops the bad guys. I would love for your area to go without law enforcement for a month and let's see who you call or what type of justice you are able to find without cops!
Are you in Law Enforcement Jean McAlister?? I am very curoius to know and if you are or if you have been has it been with Greenville County Sheriff's Office? Because unless it has been I dont see how you are educated to say what is a correct or incorrect procedure. I will not continue with this and allow it to be a pissing contest but I will defend the cop because he did his job!!! Cops do not get paid what they deserve and taking a man's life is not a pleasure for these men, Cops have to live with their choices, even if it was the right choice, doesnt mean it is an easy one to live with. Please try and place yourself on the opposite side before you begin name calling the men and women who protect our county.
Jean B McAllister
5:32 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
It is you who uses much in the way of words yet does nothing. Have you ever walked into a black neighborhood and seen actually seen the way of life? No. I will bet you do nothing but watch. I knew that man. I have aso walked those streets and witnessed the harrassment the police do in that area. You are the ignorant one. Really. Shame on you. I knew that man. I have been harrassed by police in tht area in the past. I no longer live there. My last man was a plice officer and died at way too young an age of cancer. Dare you call me ignorant. Shame on you.