GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office released a critical community briefing justifying a deputy’s use of excessive force in a deputy-involved shooting in January.
7NEWS previously reported a deputy-involved shooting happened on January 26 in the area of South Piedmont Highway near Cemetery Street.
According to the community briefing released by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area of 1508 South Piedmont Highway after receiving two separate 911 calls concerning an assault at the location.
In the first 911 call, an unidentified man says a man came, opened the door of his truck and hit him in the mouth with a big stick and he needs the police to come and take him to jail.
In the second call, the man said “He just took off down the road with a girl hanging halfway out of the car. I think he may have hit her or something, I don’t know.”
“Shortly after 11 p.m., deputies arrived on the scene. During the investigation, deputies learned the suspect of the assault Larry Doyle Simmons, 38, allegedly hit the victim with an object before leaving the scene,” said Lieutenant Ryan Flood.
According to the briefing, deputies initiated a search for Simmons in and around the area.
“At around 11:15 p.m., deputies encountered an armed man who they believed to be the suspect who was concealing himself behind a pickup truck,” said Flood.
Deputies identified themselves as the sheriff’s office multiple times before the subject fired at deputies. One deputy returned fire, striking the subject.
Officials said deputies maintained cover until a K-9 arrived on the scene to separate the subject from his firearm.
“After deeming the scene safe, sheriff’s office medics moved in to attempt life-saving measures on the subject, identified as 51-year-old Robert L. Campbell, but he was deceased,” said Flood.
According to the briefing, while deputies were on the scene, they located and apprehended the original suspect, Simmons, who had been hiding in a fenced lot near the shooting scene.
At the time of the release of the briefing, deputies were not sure why Campbell fired at deputies. Officials said it was clear he took no part in the assault.
A 12 gauge pump shotgun was seized at the scene.
During further investigation, deputies said they learned that Campbell was prohibited from possessing or acquiring firearms or ammunition under the Federal Gun Control Act.
According to Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis, in conclusion to the investigation, officials ruled the use of deadly force was justifiable, according to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office policy.
SLED continues to investigate this officer-involved shooting.
