Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s new video showed Irvin Moorer Charley’s mom asking an officer to “get (expletive), out of my home” and the deputy noting cuts on her arm.
Connie Craig’s tone immediately changed when her son appeared out of nowhere with a piece wood with what looked like a pointed end. Moorer Charley approached a deputy and pointed a gun at his face, telling him to drop the knife the officer called.
Craig begged Craig to not hit his son.
Charley was charged with the officer after a second deputy arrived trying to shock Moorer Charley using a Taser. Video shows the officer firing seven shots while backpedaling until Charley fell on his back.
Moorer Charley’s family stated Wednesday at a news conference that deputies should bring in a mental crisis team sheriff’s department just created because deputies were at the home a few times to treat Moorer Charley’s mental disorders. They also said officers didn’t have to shoot a man who at one time stepped backwards, and only had a piece wood. Later, the sheriff said it was an arm of a chair.
“My son was a loving child. He didn’t bother anyone. Craig stated that he had only mental health problems.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott stated Sunday that he believes deputies Zachary Hentz and John Anderson did what they needed to in a close encounter, which appeared to be becoming violent. This was the ninth fatal shooting of South Carolina deputies in the largest department in the last nine years.
Lott stated Sunday that it was impossible for these deputies “to go out here and die.” They must protect themselves. Yesterday, he did just that. He was able to protect himself.”
Moorer Charley’s brother tells Anderson that he had a knife. Anderson quickly corrected it to scissors. He says, “Don’t shoot or anything.” He don’t got no gun.”
Moorer Charley is seen slowly walking towards the deputies, carrying the piece of wood. They demand that he drop it and get down to the ground. He suddenly stops backing up and says “Y’all may shoot me”. The deputies move towards him, and he begins walking again at them.
“We believe that officers could have disarmed Mr. Charley quickly and without resorting to deadly force.” Yet, they came in with guns blazing,” Shaquana Cuttino, a family attorney, said.
Craig could be heard screaming and crying after the shooting. As blood gathered around Moorer Charley, the deputies placed him in custody. Hentz, who fired both the Taser gun and his gun, stated that “all you had was drop the knife” on the body cam footage.
The 13 minute video shows both deputies going back-and-forth doing CPR on a Moorer Charley, with their eyes open and their heads wagging uncontrollably with each chest compression.
Monday’s video was shown to the family who demanded that it be released by the sheriff’s office. Initialy, the sheriff released only a 15 second clip of Moorer Charley running at the deputy. The sheriff then released dashboard camera footage that showed the shooting from far away. After Wednesday’s news conference, the 13-minute clips were made public.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department will be investigating the incident. Lott said that his deputies are competent and have the temperament to fairly investigate their fellow officers. Lott also uses a citizen advisory panel to review shootings, major incidents, and report back to him. He also asks the FBI for review of officer shootings. The department’s findings will be reviewed by a prosecutor who will decide if the shooting was justified.
Another family attorney stated that it was unethical for the agency who killed Moorer Charley’s officers to also investigate the shooting.
Attorney Brendan Green stated, “It’s fox guarding henhouse.”
