PoliceLink

News >> Browse Articles >> Officer Down

S.C. Deputy Fatally Shot Responding to Domestic

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – An Orangeburg County deputy was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call, Sheriff Larry Williams said Saturday.

William Howell Jr., 46, of Cross died at a home in the Holly Hill area, Williams told The (Orangeburg) Times and Democrat. Howell had been shot once in the upper body at the door of the home.

Phone messages left with the sheriff’s and coroner’s offices were not immediately returned Saturday.

Williams told the newspaper that the man suspected of shooting the deputy, 20-year-old Derrick Buras, was apparently hit by a car driven by Buras’ wife as he tried to leave the scene. Buras, who was out of jail on bond on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, was found about a mile from the scene in a ditch.

Williams said Buras’ injuries were consistent with being hit by a car.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating Buras’ death. Williams said Buras’ wife was being interviewed by SLED agents.

A voice message left on a SLED spokesman’s cell phone was not immediately returned Saturday.

The incident that led to the charges against Buras involved a shooting in July in Orangeburg County, the newspaper reported. According to a police report at the time, a man had fired several shots while in a crowd of people, hit another man in the head with the butt of a shotgun and smashed out a window of a truck.

In addition to assault and battery with intent to kill, Buras was charged with assault with intent to kill and aggravated assault and battery.

(c) 2008 YellowBrix, Inc.