UNION COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A man was shot and killed Saturday night after a stand-off with deputies in Union County.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that deputies responded to a report of a man firing a gun on Baber Street.
Deputies identified the man as 81-year-old Harold Thompson.
The 911 caller told deputies he had taken his dog outside to use the bathroom and Thompson got upset when the dog barked at him. The caller said Thompson began cursing and arguing as he tried to get the dog back in the house and shot towards the road, according to deputies.
Deputies said they tried to talk to Thompson, but he would not answer the door. After several attempts to contact him, the decision was made to obtain a probate court detention order, or an evaluation order.
The special response team arrived and served the order. Deputies asked Thompson to come out with his hands in the air. The sheriff’s office said Thompson walked out of a back room with a gun pointed at the deputies.
Deputies said they repeatedly asked Thompson to drop the weapon, before he shot towards several deputies.
Deputies returned fire and Thompson was fatally injured.
SLED (S.C. Law Enforcement Division) is investigating the shooting, which is customary officer-involved shootings.
The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave.
No deputies were hurt.