Suspect Dies After Shot By Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Deputy
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Man Dies After Deputy Involved Shooting
A man has died after he was shot by a Spartanburg County Sheriff's deputy Wednesday morning.
Published: October 22, 2009
Updated: October 22, 2009
Update: 7:35 pm Thursday
Travis Martin, the man who called 911, told News Channel 7 Thursday that he did not want to talk on-camera, but off-camera, he said the Steve he knew was his friend. He says when Satterfield threatened to kill him yesterday, he knew something was terribly wrong. He says he is deeply saddened to hear about Satterfield’s death and that he has spoken with Satterfield’s family. News Channel 7 went to the home of Satterfields parents Thursday. The family told us they did not wish to speak about Satterfield’s death.
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A man is dead after investigators say a deputy was forced to fire his gun.
Sheriff Chuck Wright says Deputy Brandon Bentley was responding to a disturbance call Wednesday afternoon in the Hillbrook neighborhood.
The Sheriff says Steven Satterfield, Jr. came at his deputy and said “I’ll kill you.“ Wright says Bentley fired once, hitting the man in the chest. “Its emotionally devastating. I’ve not met a deputy yet or an officer of any kind that says I’m glad I had to do that. They got to go home an deal with it now.“ he said.
Satterfied, Jr died Thursday morning.
Neighbors are in shock over the shooting. “I’ve never heard anything like that happening in the two years I’ve been here…not even a cop driving by,“ Michael Mantatis said.
Investigators aren’t saying why the neighbors were fighting.
SLED is investigating.
***Updated Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:55 a.m.***
Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger reports Steven M. Satterfield Jr. died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center at 4:43 a.m.
Clevenger says an autopsy is planned.
Steven M. Satterfield Jr.
***Updated Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:53 p.m.***
The victim of an deputy-involved shooting Wednesday has now been indentified.
Sheriff Chuck Wright confirms to News Channel 7 that Steven Satterfield, Jr was shot in the chest after threatening a Spartanburg County deputy.
Satterfield is currently at Spartanburg Regional.
The shooting happened Wednesday on Harrell Drive in the Hillbrook neighborhood of Spartanburg County.
Sheriff Wright says his office got a call about a disturbance between neighbors.
The neighbor says the suspect came at him with a shovel.
When the deputy started talking to the neighbor who called 911, Satterfield allegedly yelled to the deputy, “I’ll kill you.“
Investigators say Satterfield had a weapon and the deputy shot the him in the upper chest.
The deputy handcuffed Satterfield and then administered first aid. Wright says Satterfield has history of harassment.
The family was able to visit him this evening, and is said to be shaken by today’s events.
The deputy, identified as Brandon Bentley, was not injured.
The sheriff’s office says Bentley has served with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office for 4 years.
Bentley also worked for Laurens Co. Sheriff’s Office before Spartanburg and has at least 8 years of law enforcement experience.
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Reader Reactions
Every business Illegal or not requires basics:
1. Finance
2. Distribution
3. Police Protection
If you look at the murder victim’s former business unless your complicit in the enterprise, you must ask logical questions :
1. Where & who are all the other parts ?
2. What is to be gained if the victim talks & or testifies to cut a deal & so on ?
3. Perhaps - it was not not personal, its only business.
I knew this guy (really well) and having spent some time with law enforcement I can tell you two things. 1. The officer made a HUGE mistake. It happens, but he shouldn’t be praised for killing a man holding a garden tool. 2. Spartanburg as a community needs to ask itself if this is the type of behavior they want to be known for. The police deserve respect, and a lot of it, but do they have the right to shoot to kill citizens holding garden tools? I don’t care what someone says, the police handle drunks, drug addicts, and hardened criminals every day that say they are going to kill them. They only shoot the ones that have the guns or lethal weapons to make it happen.
This officer is Junior Varsity. Why isn’t anyone in this town asking the hard questions? Even if all the reports are true (although we know about some of the inaccuracies already) did he deserve to die? That is something this community is going to have to come to grips with. Our Christian faith tells us the answer, and it wasn’t to shoot to kill a guy with a sprinkler head in his hand).
Oh 1 more thing when if you spend 8 years in law , qualifying on a shooting range , then you can take the ears off a gnat at 100 paces - let alone the knee caps off a person - even if they said something threatening. Shoot to kill means you intended to kill them , not just stop them from harming you - there is a big difference and 8 years of training teaches you that. Been there done that & that’s 1 part of what makes me know , there’s lots not being reported here.
Not a model citizen - In this country no one is but, Manufacturing Marijuana is a still business crime, because its not dealing in a legally qualified and taxed commodity. The Word is - He was able to speak and respond for many hours between the morning of his murder and his passing away but, the Police guards outside his hospital room & inside the hospital room would not allow anyone to pass to speak to him citing his “criminal status”. He did not die until 4:43 AM. And if you believe Mr. Satterfield went to that man’s house unprovoked and started all of this, then I would bet there is some swamp land real estate in that neighborhood you should go buy too. This Is Simply Not A Plausible And Complete Story - no matter how the Posters want wrap the flag and community support around the cops or white wash their story or their witnesses.
Mr.Satterfield was NOT the model citizen that “JB” paints him as. First off, records show that he was arrested for manufactoring marijuana NOT a “business crime.“ AND what idiot would suppose that a deputy and this man’s neighbor would somehow plot to kill Satterfield? No, the criminal was not able to speak with his family before he died because the Doctors and nurses were working on him!! No one wanted him dead but he did “ go beserk” and he did not stop when he was told to and he paid the price. Has anyone given any thought to how scared his poor neighbor was that had to call 911 in the first place? Satterfield went to that man’s house unprovoked and started all of this.So he had just come from Bible study? Doesn’t seem like he was listening does it??
Let me see if I got this right . A man that just got back from Bible study, was dropped off by his Father at his former residence - to do some quick routine yard work, so the house would be presentable to some potential buyers that were to view it & this same man that was to be picked back up shortly afterwards to go back to his Parents house where he was already living, supposedly just goes berserk - threatens everyone with a shovel & this cop - who just happens to be close enough to respond then shoots him with deadly force. As if a man with a shovel was such a threat - yea , I really believe that cops story. Oh & the family could not even speak to the victim after the shooting , so no dying declaration was able to be heard by anyone. Oh yea, Now I really believe this is the complete story !
Why is no one asking what the reasons are the cop & the neighbor had for wanting him dead ?
We are talking about the Mr. Satterfield who was a month earlier arrested for a business crime, the same man who would not name his partners - arn’t we ?
It’s easy to forget that everyone has their chances, and everyone makes their choices. Choices have consequences, and when you attempt to attack a uniformed officer whom we all know represents the authority of the law and who is armed by the way, yes, Virginia, you CAN get shot. Duh????? Lack of public support for law enforcement contributes to the sky-high turnover rate, including my own departure. It’s simply too easy to make a better living doing something else.
oldhippie1955 are you for real? A shovel is a six foot weapon with a 1ft by 1ft steel end! What more do you need to be told for you to show respect for the deputy that HAD to do his job. You and people like you is the main reason the public sits at home arm chair quarterbacking. I hate it that someone died however we must trust our deputys to make the right choices.
county council is to busy nickel an dimeing us for the road tax than to buy the deputy a tazer.I’m surprized the deputy’s don’t have to buy their own bullets
I agree with you Nurse 88. Our police officers stand in harms way oftten and get no thanks from the public. Some people have even taught their children to not respect the officers and others in authority. No wonder we have those who throw up their hands and say, “What’s the use!“ Also a policeman’s pay is never enough for the risk they take.
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