7 Greenville County cops cleared in shooting death

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Greenville County Sheriff Steve Loftis says he has cleared seven deputies who all fired on a burglary suspect who fired shots at officers after barricading himself in his SUV last month.

Loftis said Monday that an internal investigation found the officers were justified for all 42 rounds fired at 25-year-old Zachary Whitfield on Nov. 15.

Deputies tried to stop Whitfield after an Anderson County woman identified him as the man she saw leaving her home after a burglary.

Investigators say Whitfield barricaded himself in his SUV and fired at the officers, who fired back.

Loftis says his officers tried everything they could to end the incident peacefully, but the seven deputies had no choice but to make sure Whitfield didn’t harm anyone else after he fired on police.