Body camera recordings presented by a sheriff’s office in South Carolina show deputies firing dozens of shots with automatic weapons at an 81-year-old man who they said pointed a pistol at them after calling 911.
A sheriff’s spokesman said in the video briefing that “it is unclear at this time” if Walter Lester McDonald III ever fired the pistol, found near his body in the backyard of his suburban home in Greenville . The presentation, including edited recordings of the 911 call and video from several body cameras, was posted this week by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office on YouTube .
Sheriff Hobart Lewis said an internal investigation found the deputies didn’t violate sheriff’s office policies and have returned to work. A state investigation continues so prosecutors can determine whether they think the Dec. 27 shooting was justified or merits criminal charges.
McDonald summoned the deputies to his home, telling the 911 dispatcher “My wife would like to speak with you guys. She would like to talk about an issue.”