Lexington Co. man arrested accused of threatening the life of a public official

Cayce, SC. (WOLO) — A Lexington County man is behind bars accused of threatening the life of a public official.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has charged 30-year-old Tyler Helms for allegedly making the threat during an argument at a Cayce restaurant.
SLED agents say helms “instigated” an argument and then shot a handgun in the parking lot of the Knox Abbot Drive business.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by ABC Columbia News, when police arrived Helms told them,

“If I had a gun could I have shot him. Stand your ground…” “I should have shot and killed them; that’s S.C. code of laws. Stand your ground.” If I had shot one of them it would have been better.”

According to SLED agents, that statement was knowingly and willfully delivered as a threat to take the life or inflict bodily harm upon a public official violating ordinance section 16-03-1040(A).