Officer involved shootings are tragic for everyone involved, family members, bystanders, the public and the officer included. Unfortunately, we had two such incidents in the month of May.  The taking of human life leaves an indelible mark on the officer, even in the best of circumstances and in the most justified situations.  For that reason, and to protect the officers, it has been our policy not to release the names of the officers involved until SLED has concluded its investigation and makes its recommendation to the Solicitor’s Office or the South Carolina Attorney General.

As you may recall from our Press Releases, on May 10, 2010, a Florence County Deputy, accompanied by other members of his shift, returned fire on a suspect on Airport Circle in Lake City who had just shot and left for dead two victims on nearby Lassie Street.  One of the victims on Lassie Street died days later.  When fired upon by the suspect, the deputy was forced to protect himself and others which resulted in the death of the suspect. In our view, the deputy acted in an exemplary manner. Nevertheless, FCSO immediately requested an independent investigation of the incident by SLED, the recognized experts in these matters.

As is routine following these incidents, the Deputy was placed on administrative leave.  Pursuant to our policy on officer involved shootings, the Deputy was further required to undergo psychological counseling. 

SLED investigations into officer involved shootings are very thorough, and necessarily require some time to complete.  Experience has shown that keeping an officer who has done nothing wrong out of work until the SLED investigation is complete is not always in the best interest of the deputy or the public.  When this deputy was cleared by the psychologist as fit to return to duty, and at his request, the deputy was put back to work. 

Again, on May 28, 2010 shortly after 3:00 AM, our deputy responded with other members of his shift to a call of multiple gunshots in the parking lot of Seekers Night Club on South Irby Street in Florence.  A club employee had been shot in the parking lot and the deputy could hear gunfire when he arrived. When a gunman confronted by the Deputy in the crowded parking lot refused commands to drop his weapon, this suspect was shot by the Deputy in order to protect himself and others. This gunman was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. As in the Airport Circle incident, FCSO requested a full and independent investigation by SLED. The deputy was required to attend mandatory psychological counseling and was placed on administrative leave.

The deputy in the Airport Circle shooting and the Seekers Night Club shooting is the same.  Based upon our knowledge of the events, we have always believed that Deputy Dane Keefe acted appropriately in both instances, and that he complied in all respects with South Carolina Law, FCSO policy on the use of force and his training. 

SLED has now completed its separate independent investigations into both incidents and has reported its findings to the South Carolina Attorney General.  Based upon its review of the incidents the Attorney General has concluded that the shooting of Adrian Pressley on May 10, 2010 as well as the shooting of Deangelo Eugene James Foxworth on May 28, 2010 constituted a lawful use of force by our deputy.

Law enforcement officers are trained to protect human life, which includes the public and themselves. Our deputy valiantly responded to both of these imminent threats to himself and the public in a manner consistent with his training and South Carolina law. While we regret the loss of life in these instances, we are certainly pleased for our deputy that two independent investigations have found no wrongdoing on his part and that his actions were legally justified under the circumstances.