3 South Carolina Deputies Suspended After ‘Horseplay’ Leads To Shooting At Training Session

Greenville, SC – A Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) supervisor and two deputies have been suspended from the force after one deputy shot another during an act of “horseplay” at a recent firearms training session.

The incident occurred in Abbeville County near Industrial Park Drive during a training exercise on Feb. 22, WSPA reported.

Deputies were securing their equipment after the controlled training session in which blank rounds and simulation firearms had been used, according to investigators.

As they were securing their equipment, one deputy fired a simulation gun at a second deputy, detonating a blank round, WSPA reported.

Investigators described the situation as an act of “horseplay.”

After the blank round was fired, the second deputy fired his weapon at the first deputy, forgetting he had already swapped his simulation gun out for his duty pistol, WSPA reported.

The second deputy ended up shooting the first deputy in the foot.

The wounded deputy was given medical care at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

He was released from the hospital a short while later, WSPA reported.

The GCSO’s Office of Professional Standards launched an investigation into the shooting and ultimately disciplined three members of the department in connection with the incident, according to WYFF.

The deputies who fired the weapons were both suspended from the force for 10 days for improper handling of a firearm and careless use of a firearm, WSPA reported.

The GCSO supervisor responsible for monitoring the handling of the firearms at the training location was suspended for three days.

All three deputies must also participate in remedial training.

“The men and women entrusted to uphold justice and represent the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office are held to the highest standard of conduct,” Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis told WSPA. “While I understand accidents occur, moments of carelessness will not be tolerated under my leadership.”

“I will ensure that the deputies involved will undergo extensive remedial training following their discipline so they can take the appropriate steps of returning to serving others in the manner they are called to do,” Sheriff Lewis added.