SC Black community group says man was in mental crisis when shot by Richland deputies
A Black man who was shot and killed Saturday by Richland County deputies did not have a lethal weapon and was in a mental health crisis, according to a community group.
Irvin Moorer-Charley, 34, “only had a small wooden stick in his hand” when Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies shot him, The South Carolina Black Activist Coalition said in a news release Sunday.
Deputies shot him 10 times, the coalition said.
The deputies were responding to a “mental health crisis call” about Moorer-Charley, according to the group.
Both Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and Coroner Naida Rutherford denied those three claims during a news conference.
“We DEMAND accountability,” the coalition said on a flier about a news conference the group and the family of Moorer-Charley planned to hold Sunday.
The shooting happened at about 6 p.m. near Heyward Brockington Road, between Monticello and Fairfield roads.
The sheriff’s department said it was called about domestic violence incident involving a weapon.
Deputies used a Taser on Moorer-Charley, who then charged at Deputy Zachary Hentz, according to the sheriff’s department. Fearing for his life, Hentz opened fire, striking Moorer-Charley four times, Richland County officials said. Deputies did CPR on Moorer-Charley until paramedics arrived.
The Black Activist Coalition said it would address community concerns and call for transparency at the news conference.
This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 1:52 PM with the headline "SC Black community group says man was in mental crisis when shot by Richland deputies."