Man killed in confrontation with deputies
By Bobby Bryant, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
Darlington County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a “man with a gun” last week after he refused to drop his weapon and kept walking along New Market Road near Hartsville, officials said.
Daryl Strickland, 65, of Hartsville, died in the Sept. 25 incident, said Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee. Sheriff Tony Chavis has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate the slaying; SLED routinely handles officer-involved shootings.
The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office released the full incident report on the shooting Friday. It deletes the names of three officers involved in the incident, but otherwise provides a full account of what took place according to the deputies who were on the scene.
The report, written by a deputy whose name has been deleted, states that at 6:38 p.m. last Wednesday, the unnamed deputy responded to the area of 847 New Market Road in response to a call about a “man walking with a gun.” (The report deletes the name of the person who called the Sheriff’s Office.)
At 6:51 p.m., the report says, the unnamed deputy and two other officers “made contact” with the man “walking on New Market Road with a gun in his hand.” (The report does not say whether the weapon was a handgun or “long gun” such as a rifle or shotgun.)
“All deputies approached the suspect and gave verbal commands to drop his weapon
. . . which suspect ignored,” the report says.
“The suspect continued to walking,” the report continues. “The suspect then stated something … which this deputy did not understand.
“When the suspect turned, he was fired upon,” the report says. “The suspect was struck with gunfire and dropped to the ground.” (The report does not state which officer or officers fired shots. But the Sheriff’s Office has indicated that only one deputy has been placed on administrative leave and is expected to receive counseling.)
A memorial service for Strickland was scheduled Sept. 28, directed by Norton Funeral Home. According to an obituary posted on Norton’s website, Strickland was the son of a pastor and he is survived by a sister and three brothers.
“He was good to his parents as long as they lived and was a loving brother,” the obituary says.
This incident marks the third time in the past year that Darlington County sheriff’s deputies have killed a suspect during a confrontation.
On Oct. 20, 2018, Kimberly Norris was fatally shot by deputies near the McBee area. Officials said that she had tried to carjack a man at gunpoint and that she fired shots at deputies.
On Dec. 16, 2018, April E. Webster was fatally shot during an incident with deputies at her Edna Street home north of Darlington. The Sheriff’s Office said she had confronted deputies with a large serrated knife.
That case remains under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division.