Cross Hill shooting ruled self-defense, trio arrested in thefts
A shooting in Cross Hill that left a man dead Saturday has been ruled as self-defense by local law enforcement.
According to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. at a residence on Longview Road in Cross Hill. Deputies found a male with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting victim was identified as Deandre Martavious Bowers, 26, of Cross Hill.
A release Tuesday from the LCSO said another male who lived at the residence had been assaulted and felt threatened, so he defended himself.
According to Deputy Coroner Robin Morse, Bowers was shot with a 9mm handgun in the chest and lower abdomen.
Following an investigation, officers with the LCSO consulted with the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and decided to not file charges at this time due to the individual’s right to defend himself.
3 men arrested in catalytic converter thefts
From left, Phillip Blanchard, Joseph Radford, William Turner.
Three men were arrested Sunday in connection with vandalizing and theft at a local welding business.
According to an arrest report from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy spotted a vehicle on Highway 72 and Green Plains Road near Clinton that seemed suspicious. Upon being pursued by the deputy, the driver attempted to flee but was unable to do so when the vehicle stalled.
Phillip Chad Blanchard, 42, of Wellford, Joseph Perry Radford, 43, of Spartanburg and William Christopher Turner, 40, of Greenwood were arrested and charged with grand larceny with a value of $10,000 or more, grand larceny with a value of $2,000 or more, possession of tools capable of committing a crime, property damage and criminal conspiracy. Blanchard also faces a charge of trafficking methamphetamine for the 10.2-gram bag of drugs, which he attempted to hide on his person during the investigation.
The suspects remained in the Johnson Detention Center Tuesday on bonds totaling between than $37,000-$47,500 each.
