No charges for homeowner in fatal shooting of escaped inmate in Pickens Co.
by: WSPA Staff
Posted: Dec 17, 2018 / 11:21 PM EST / Updated: Dec 17, 2018 / 11:21 PM EST
PICKENS COUNTY, SC (WSPA) – A homeowner who shot and killed an escaped inmate, who kicked in the door of a Meece Mill Road home earlier this month, will not be charged in the shooting death.
According to a Pickens County Sheriff's Office news release, the sheriff's office received notification last week from the 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office that the review of the investigation into the shooting, that happened on Dec. 4, was finished.
Assistant Solicitor J. Baker Cleveland III issued the following statement:
"It is the opinion of this office that (Name Redacted) would be immune from prosecution for any charges relating to the shooting death of Bruce McLaughlin pursuant to Title 16, Article 6 of the S.C. Code of Laws, the Protection of Persons and Property Act.
Her actions in this matter are a textbook example of what type of actions the Protection of Persons and Property Act seek to provide absolute criminal immunity for."
The sheriff's office added in the release that no criminal charges against the homeowner will be sought by the homeowner.
We reported earlier that the inmates — McLaughlin and Timothy Cleveland Dill — escaped the County Prison after assaulting and taking two detention center officers captive.
The sheriff said the assault and the escape were premeditated and had been planned for several days.
Non-involved inmates tried to help the detention officers and deputies were dispatched to the jail.
Shortly after, a homeowner who lives on Meece Mill Rd. called 911 and said an unknown man kicked in her front door and she shot him.
The report said the escapee — McLaughlin — kicked in the backdoor and was near the homeowner's bedroom door. The woman was home alone at the time.
McLaughlin was reportedly still dressed in an orange jumpsuit and was armed with a knife sharpening tool that belonged to the homeowner.
He was shot once in the head and taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital via helicopter where he was pronounced dead.
The sheriff said the woman was a trained CWP holder and she used lethal force to protect herself against the escapee.
The other escapee, Timothy Cleveland Dill, was seen by a responding deputy and was taken into custody a short distance from the jail on Concord Church Rd.
He was in jail on Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor charges.
Dill now faces charges of escape, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree assault and battery, strong arm robbery and malicious injury to a jail.
He was taken to the Pickens County Detention Center. He was denied bond on all charges.