PRESS RELEASE
August 23, 2016

DEATH RULED SUICIDE

Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence County Coroner’s Office have concluded the investigation into a shooting incident which occurred yesterday afternoon near I-95 and Highway 327 in Florence County. One subject was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound and three persons of interest were detained for questioning. The Florence County Coroner’s office identified the deceased as Walter Allen Russ, age 34 of Avon Park, Florida. The body of the deceased was sent for autopsy to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC.

After interviewing the persons of interest and receipt of the autopsy results, Investigators and the Coroner have ruled the death a suicide.

All suspicious deaths are investigated as homicides until that cause can be ruled out. While initially described yesterday as an apparent homicide, further investigation into this death did not support that conclusion as determined by FCSO Investigators and the Coroner’s Office.

END

Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.