Prosecutor to seek death penalty in deputy’s death

LAURENS, S.C. (AP) — Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing a Laurens County deputy as he tried to arrest him on a murder charge in the death of his ex-girlfriend

Solicitor Jerry Peace said he notified 39-year-old Bennie Ray Brown Jr. of his decision Thursday at the Greenwood County jail.

Authorities say Brown first shot and killed ex-girlfriend Nicole Kingsborough in the parking lot of the plant she worked in at Fountain Inn in July, then shot 29-year-old deputy Roger Rice several hours later as he worked with several officers to arrest him at his Clinton home.

Investigators say Brown was out on bail at the time on a criminal domestic violence charge that happened two weeks before the killings.