S.C. Man Accused of Calling 911, Then Firing at Responding Deputies
What to Know
- A man is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly called 911, requested Saluda County sheriff's deputies respond to his home and then opened fire on multiple people, including responding law enforcement officers.
- Investigators said Timothy James Osterfield, 65, shoved a person inside his Saluda home before following that individual outside and allegedly pointing a handgun at people gathered there, then firing at least one round.
- No injuries were reported, and Osterfield was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
A Midlands man is behind bars after he recently called 911 then shot at multiple people including the law enforcement officers who responded to his home, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
On Tuesday, 65-year-old Saluda resident Timothy James Osterfield was charged with three counts of attempted murder and a single count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, SLED said Wednesday in a news release.
The charges stem from a Monday night shooting, according to an affidavit shared by SLED.
The incident began when a person arrived and entered Osterfield’s home, an affidavit shows. It was not clear if that person was invited by Osterfield, previously knew him or also resided at the Saluda home. But once inside, Osterfield forcefully shoved that person into a door before Osterfield called 911, according to the affidavit.
In the call, Osterfield requested that law enforcement officers come to his home, the affidavit said. Saluda County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived in a marked patrol vehicle while wearing clothing and equipment that identified them as law enforcement officers, according to the affidavit.
The person who was shoved into the door exited the home to speak with the deputies, with Osterfield in pursuit, the affidavit shows. The deputies tried to make contact with Osterfield, who responded by pointing a handgun at one of the people outside, then fired at least one round, the affidavit said.
Information about what happened after that shot was fired was not available, but deputies ultimately found a Ruger 5.7 pistol in Osterfield’s possession, and a shell casing was recovered, according to the affidavit.
No injuries were reported by SLED.
Osterfield was booked into the Saluda County Detention Center, SLED said in the release. No bond was set, Saluda County court records show. Osterfield is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 21, according to judicial records.
The case will be prosecuted by the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, according to the release.
The sheriff’s office asked SLED to lead an investigation.
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