Union County deputies kill suspect after shooting

UNION, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a man has been shot to death by Union County sheriff’s deputies when he refused to drop his gun after shooting his girlfriend at a convenience store.

Sheriff David Taylor said 52-year-old Ricky Lee Eison went into the Kelly One Stop near Jonesville around 9 p.m. Wednesday and shot his 47-year-old girlfriend four times.

Taylor says Eison then shot at several other people in the store, reloading at least once before officers arrived.

Investigators say Eison then walked out of the store. He refused to put his gun down, leading deputies to open fire.

The condition of the woman who was shot has not been released. No one else in the store was hurt.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting by the deputies.