Sheriff: Deputies justified in using deadly force in shooting in Greenville Co.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville County Sheriff's Office has released a critical incident report regarding the justification of deadly force used by deputies in a shooting incident on January 23. The shooting occurred at the Greenville Inn & Suites while deputies were on the lookout for an armed robbery suspect from Pickens County.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Sean Michael Scates, allegedly demanded money from a Shell station clerk before fleeing the scene in a dark Nissan Pathfinder. Upon locating Scates' vehicle at the motel around 2:30 p.m., deputies moved in to apprehend him, as he was known to frequent nearby motels.

Body camera footage revealed that when deputies approached Scates, he attempted to flee in his vehicle, prompting a deputy to pin his car against a pole. The situation escalated when Scates retrieved a handgun from his car and attempted to run, resulting in six deputies firing at him.

Despite immediate medical assistance being provided until EMS arrived, Scates succumbed to his injuries. His firearm was secured as evidence, and the investigation into the incident was handed over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office to assess the legality of the deputies' actions.

Sheriff Hobart Lewis stated in the report that the investigation concluded the deputies' actions were consistent with the agency's Use of Force policy.