SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Greenville County
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Greenville County.
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Greenville Inn and Suites on S. Pleasantburg Blvd. for a possible sighting of a subject believed to be involved in an armed robbery in Pickens County. Deputies encountered an armed man sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Greenville Inn and Suites. During the encounter, the man’s vehicle struck a deputy's vehicle. The man got out of the vehicle with a gun in his hand when Greenville County deputies shot him. The man was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as Sean Scates, 45. No law enforcement officials were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Greenville County is the 2nd officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2025. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2024, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had 7 officer involved shootings last year.
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For media inquiries, please email SLED’s Public Information Office: pio@sled.sc.gov.
