Laurens County, SC: Laurens County Deputy Killed In Shooting

Suspect In Custody

POSTED: 12:52 am EDT July 14, 2011
UPDATED: 6:51 am EDT July 14, 2011

LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. -- A Laurens County deputy was shot and killed in the line of duty late Wednesday night.
Sheriff Ricky Chastain said deputy Roger Rice, a recent graduate of the sheriff's academy and a married father of two, died when he was shot by a man under investigation in connection to a murder investigation in Fountain Inn.
Deputies were at a home on Barrel Stave Road in Clinton about 11:30 p.m. assisting the murder investigation.
Chastain said the man inside the home, later identified as Bennie Ray Brown, Jr., opened fire, hitting Rice and a civilian at the home. Rice was rushed to Laurens County Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Chastain said.
Deputies returned fire on Brown, who was barricaded inside the home, according to Chastain. The sheriff said Brown was injured and taken into custody. He was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital where he was being treated for his injuries. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening, according to Chastain.
The sheriff also said the unidentified civilian was going to be OK.
During the news conference, an emotional Chastain described Rice as a dedicated, determined civil servant. He said Rice was in his late 20's, and graduated from from the training academy 6 or 7 months ago. Rice was married with two young children, Chastain said. He said he was filling in on the late-night shift for another deputy. Rice had been with sheriff's office since January of 2010, and originally worked at the detention center, Chastain said.
"He was very dedicated. He was at the office most of yesterday morning obtaining warrants, then went home and got some sleep and was back up at 5 p.m. to start to work the shift tonight," said Chastain.
Rice lived in the Gray Court area of Laurens County. Chastain had to notify Rice's family about his death.
"We have pain. It's a brotherhood, a sisterhood. You're family. You get to the point that they are literally your family and you don't want anything to happen to them," said Chastain.
The sheriff said the man accused of killing Deputy Rice was no stranger to the Laurens County Sheriff's Office. Chastain said Brown was arrested on a criminal domestic violence charge in June. He was out on bond on that charge when this happened, the sheriff said.