Officer shoots, kills woman after confrontationHe was investigating break-in, chief says
Published: Saturday, September 1, 2007 - 2:00 am
By E. Richard Walton
STAFF WRITER, Greenville News
A Greenville police officer shot and killed a woman who "confronted" him as he responded this evening to a reported break-in at a residence on East Stone Avenue, Greenville Police Chief Terri Wilfong said.
The woman was shot by Cpl. Russell Irvin at about 6 p.m. at 208 E. Stone Ave. near Bennett Street, she said.
Sabrina M. Parker, 35, of 208 E. Stone Ave., Apt. 4 was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:07 p.m., said Ken Coppins, Greenville County deputy coroner. An autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today, Coppins said.
Wilfong said the officer went to one unit in the dwelling, then to another one and was "confronted" by the woman.
"We still don’t have all the facts together," she said. "The officer approached the woman, and that’s when the confrontation started."
The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting. SLED spokeswoman Mary Perry declined to comment tonight except to say that Greenville police had requested a couple of agents to investigate the case, and she didn’t know when further information would be available.
Wilfong said she didn’t know how many times the officer fired his weapon. She wouldn’t comment on whether the woman had a weapon or how she confronted the officer.
Irvin has been with the Greenville Police Department since February of 2003, said police spokesman Cpl. Jason E. Rampey. "We won’t be making any more comments about this," he said. "SLED will do the rest of the talking."
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Weapon reported found near body
Woman killed after confrontation with police officer, officials say
Published: Monday, September 3, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Paul Alongi
STAFF WRITER, Greenville News
A weapon was found near Sabrina M. Parker's body after a Greenville police officer fatally shot her during a confrontation at a downtown residence, a Greenville County deputy coroner said Sunday.
Parker, 35, died of a gunshot wound to the chest after Friday's shooting at 208 E. Stone Ave., said deputy coroner Ken Coppins. He wouldn't say what type of weapon was found near the body.
In wake of the shooting, law enforcement agencies have left several questions unanswered, including how many times Parker was shot.
Police have said the shooting happened after Cpl. Russell Irvin responded to a break-in.
Irvin, who has been on the force since February 2003, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, said Greenville police spokesman Cpl. Jason Rampey.
"There's no indication that he's done anything wrong," Rampey said. "That's just the policy that we have."
Parker's husband, Alton Parker of North Augusta, has told The Greenville News that he didn't think the shooting was necessary. Parker, who died at the scene, lived in Apt. 4 at 208 E. Stone Ave., Coppins said.
Rampey and Coppins referred questions about the investigation to the State Law Enforcement Division.
SLED spokeswoman Mary Perry declined comment, other than to say that the agency has been asked to look into the incident, and that it's an ongoing investigation.
Rampey said the only time officers are supposed to use deadly force is when their lives or someone else's life is in danger.
SLED will review the officer's actions, the suspect's actions and whether the officer's actions were justified, he said.
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City backs chief's decision to withhold shooting details
Published: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - 2:00 am
By Paul Alongi
STAFF WRITER, Greenville News
Greenville City Manager Jim Bourey said Monday he is supporting his police chief's decision to withhold three details about an officer's fatal shooting of a woman last week.
Chief Terri Wilfong has declined to say how many times Cpl. Russell Irvin fired, how many times Sabrina M. Parker was hit, or what type of weapon was found near her body.
Wilfong, who reports to Bourey, cited an investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division. "I assured them that once we turned the investigation over to them that we would not make any more comment," she said.
SLED spokeswoman Mary Perry declined to release the information, citing the open investigation.
Three members of the Greenville City Council, including Mayor Knox White, said Monday they haven't been briefed about the incident and deferred to the chief about what information should be released to the public.
Parker, 35, died of a gunshot would to the chest after Friday's shooting at 208 E. Stone Ave., said Greenville County Deputy Coroner Ken Coppins. A weapon was found near her body, he said, but he declined to say what kind.
Wilfong said an officer arrived at 5:55 p.m. and spoke to a break-in victim at Apt. 6. As part of the investigation, he went to a downstairs apartment, where he had a confrontation with a woman before shooting at her, she said.
Irvin, a member of the force since 2003, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, said police spokesman Cpl. Jason Rampey.
Parker lived in Apt. 4 at the shooting scene, Coppins said.
Bourey said he doesn't plan to brief the council about the incident at Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. meeting on the ninth floor of City Hall. "It's really a police matter," he said. "And it's a State Law Enforcement Division matter."
SLED will investigate, Bourey said, and the decision on whether the shooting was justified will be up to the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Council members C. Diane Smock and Chandra Dillard joined White in saying they deferred to the chief on what information ought to be released. Councilwoman Michelle Shain said she hasn't been briefed and assumed that Wilfong "was correct in her assertion." Councilman J. David Sudduth said he supports Wilfong's decision.