Sheriff: Berkeley deputy shoots, kills woman firing randomly in Goose Creek neighborhood

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCIV) — The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the death of a woman who was shot and killed by Berkeley County deputies after they were sent to investigate someone firing a weapon in a Goose Creek neighborhood. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were sent to Whisper Way in Saint James Estates, an unincorporated part of Goose Creek, shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday. When deputies arrived, they reportedly found a woman randomly discharging a firearm. The deputies tried to talk to the woman and used an unnamed non-lethal way to take her under control. However, the woman pointed her weapon at the deputies. That’s when one of the deputies opened fire at the woman, hitting her. Deputies did not say where the woman was hit. She was taken to Trident Medical Center where she died. “We have not positively identified her yet,” said Berkeley County Coroner Bill Salisbury shortly before midnight Thursday. Sheriff Duane Lewis has already reached out to the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate the shooting. SLED agents were in the neighborhood Thursday night surveying the scene. The sheriff’s office did not release the name of the deputy who opened fire, nor did officials say whether the officer had been placed on leave during the investigation. SLED officials said Friday that this is the 40th officer involved shooting of 2015 and the third involving an officer with the BCSO.