S.C. Sheriff's K-9 Shot in Ear while Chasing Suspect in Car Beak-Ins
What to know
- A Richland County Sheriff's Department K-9 was shot and wounded in the ear when a suspect opened fire during a foot chase.
- Deputies responded to reports of car break-ins at an apartment complex parking lot and confronted two men allegedly checking for unlocked cars.
- One of the suspects fled on foot, and he began shooting during the pursuit, wounding a K-9 before he was fatally shot by a deputy's return fire.
By Javon L. Harris
Source The State
A man is dead after shooting at a Richland County Sheriff Department’s K-9 team, according to Sheriff Leon Lott.
Degeorge Dabry, 20, was shot and killed by K-9 specialist Richard Jeffcoat after Darby fired two rounds at Jeffcoat and his partner, K-9 Kiro, as they were pursing him following a report of car break-ins, Lott said during a news conference Wednesday. One of the rounds fired by Darby struck K-9 Kiro in the ear, which he was later treated for at CVETS, a news release said.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Lott showed Jeffcoat’s body cam footage, detailing when Darby fired at deputies and Jeffcoat’s return fire.
“I’ve talked about how these young people with guns ... end them up in one of two places, either the cemetery or in prison,” Lott said during a news conference. “Unfortunately, the gun ... caused someone to loose their life.”
It began around 12:15 a.m., Wednesday, when a 911 caller reported that Darby and another suspect, John Lee Williams, 20, were walking around an apartment complex off of Hunt Club road, entering unlocked cars, according to a news release.
“Breaking into vehicles has not only plagued our community, but throughout the United States,” Lott said. “Every night ... people go through subdivisions and apartment complexes just pulling on handles and opening (car) doors and just stealing whatever.”
When deputies arrived, they quickly identified Darby and Williams, police said. Jeffcoat was backed up by K-9 specialist Robert Beary, although only one K-9, Kiro, was on the ground, Lott said during a news conference.
Darby and Williams fled from deputies immediately, but Williams quickly surrendered and was detained by Beary, a news release said.
Darby ran around a corner in the complex before firing two rounds at K-9 Kiro and Jeffcoat, striking K-9 Kiro. In response, Jeffcoat returned fire and struck Darby multiple times.
Although deputies immediately rendered aid to Darby, he was pronounced deceased after being taken to an area hospital, a news release said.
Williams was charged with two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, Lott said.
While Williams did not have a criminal record, Lott said Darby was arrested in December 2024 for being in possession of a stolen gun but that the case was dismissed in April.
Lott said Jeffcoat’s shooting would be scrutinized by three independent bodies, adding that he spoke with Darby’s family in the interest of transparency.
“One thing we’ve always done at the Richland County Sheriff’s Department is put information out as quickly as we can when there’s been a critical incident, that way our community really knows what happened. The facts will be presented to the solicitor’s office who will determine if it’s a justified shooting or not,” Lott said.
The other two bodies looking at the shooting at the coroner’s office and the citizen’s advisory council, Lott said.
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