Trending Topics

Video: S.C. sheriff’s department K-9 wounded during shootout with vehicle break-in suspect

“I’ve talked about how these young people with guns ... end them up in one of two places, either the cemetery or in prison,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said

By Javon L. Harris
The State

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — 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.

Trending
The man can be seen putting his hands up in mock surrender as a Berrien County deputy pointed a TASER at him; then he reached into his waistband, pulled out a handgun and fired
The 11 suspects arrested in the incident are accused of vandalizing vehicles and shooting off fireworks to lure ICE agents out of the center
When a Marion County deputy stopped to check on the man, he fired a flare at the deputy’s cruiser and began to act erratically before being taken into custody
Ronald Mortensen, 59, was released from prison after agreeing to a plea deal and being sentenced to time he had already served

“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.

©2025 The State. Visit thestate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.