The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has shared new details, including a 911 call and body camera footage, about a standoff in Greer, South Carolina, where deputies shot and killed a man after he reportedly fired at them.
The incident happened on November 4, around 9:45 p.m., in the 3200 block of North Highway 101. Deputies received a 911 call about someone shooting in the area. According to Lt. Ryan Flood, the caller reported that a man living in the home had fired a gun at another person who also lived there. Thankfully, the victim wasn’t hurt and managed to escape the house safely.
When deputies arrived, they found the suspect armed and refusing to come out. He had barricaded himself inside the home, which led to a tense standoff. SWAT team members and negotiators were called to the scene to try to resolve the situation.
For two hours, negotiators tried to get the man to surrender peacefully. As part of their efforts, they deployed gas into the home. However, instead of giving up, the suspect fired a shot that came dangerously close to the negotiators outside.
Things escalated quickly after that. The man eventually stepped out of the house, holding a shotgun, and pointed it at the deputies. At that moment, two deputies fired their weapons, striking the suspect. He died at the scene. Authorities later identified him as 62-year-old Rene Mercado Contreras.
As is standard practice, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has been called in to investigate the shooting. The two deputies involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave while the case is reviewed. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis confirmed that the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will also be examining the case.
An internal review by the sheriff’s office concluded that the deputies acted appropriately under the circumstances. Sheriff Lewis emphasized that their actions were justified, given the threat they faced.
The sheriff’s office has also made the body camera footage and report available for public viewing, but they’ve cautioned that the video is graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.
