Authorities released new details Friday after six people were shot and two killed in a Thursday shooting and standoff near Cleveland Park in Spartanburg County. Coroner Rusty Clevenger identified one of the victims as Charter Communications employee Perry James McIntyre, 49, of Landrum. Officials said McIntyre was on a service call at the home on Amelia Street where the standoff took place.Deputies released a previous booking photo of the suspect, 45-year-old Shannon Earl Smith, who died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after being shot during the standoff, according to Clevenger.Public records show Smith lived at the Amelia Street home.The records also showed his criminal history in Spartanburg County goes back to 1998, including drug charges, simple assault and battery and public disorderly conduct.The shooting incident began about 2:30 p.m. when a man, later identified by authorities as Smith, walked up to a Spartanburg Water crew working near his home and asked what they were doing.He asked the employees what they were doing, and after they told him they were working on a sewer main repair he started shooting, according to Jennifer Candler, communications director for Spartanburg Water. The two employees were shot and officials said they are expected to be OK, but details of their conditions were not released. According to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Smith then went to his home and barricaded himself inside. During the course of the standoff with law enforcement officers, a woman suffered at least one gunshot wound that appears to be non-life-threatening, Lt. Ryan Flood, with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, said.Flood said a deputy with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was also shot and is expected to recover.Sheriff Chuck Wright with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office asked for prayers for everyone involved. He talked about the tough choices his deputies and others had to make.”I don’t know of anybody else except an American soldier that has to make these choices. That’s the reason why I respect them so much. I want the community to know that we are out here trying to have peace. We are going to do whatever it takes to have peace in our community,” Wright said. “I’m here for you, the city is here for you. We didn’t like these outcomes either but we didn’t dictate it and we never do.”A spokeswoman for Charter Communications sent WYFF News 4 the following statement Friday morning: “It is with a heavy heart we share the devastating news that the life of Perry McIntyre, one of our Spartanburg-based Field Technicians, was needlessly taken yesterday afternoon near Cleveland Park. Perry was an expert at his craft and was with our company family for nine years. Words cannot express our grief over the loss of our colleague, mentor and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Perry’s family and loved ones. We will continue to work with Greenville County Sheriff’s office as they investigate this tragedy.”Clevenger said Smith died in the operating room from a gunshot wound.Smith’s aunt said she got the news around midnight. She said she never expected something like this to happen.“It shocks me that he’s accused of doing all this, because I cannot see him doing this,” Smith’s aunt Marilyn Murphy said. Murphy said Smith lived in the home with his mother. She said his mother was also shot during the standoff and taken to the hospital. Murphy said her nephew has always been a caring person.”My family is taking this kind of hard because they can’t believe it,” Murphy said. “That’s how we’re doing. We just can’t believe it. This is not Shannon. I’m like everybody. I want to know how it happened and what triggered it all.”Murphy said she thinks something must have set Smith off. She doesn’t know what could have lead to this.“I did not see this coming. I tell you, when I heard about it, it just blew me away,” Murphy said. “I couldn’t believe it, and even the whole family couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t see Shannon doing this. So I say he had to have been triggered or something snapped.”Murphy also sent her condolences to the victims and their families.“I’m so sorry it happened,” Murphy said. “I’m so sorry it happened like that. That things turned out like that. I’m so sorry. My heart goes out to them.” Murphy said she still hasn’t had time to process everything. She said she wishes she had known something could’ve been wrong.“As a family, we should try to stay closer to each other and know where each other is at in their minds and everywhere,” Murphy said. “Everywhere. Because this right here, we didn’t see coming and didn’t know it was coming. We should’ve been closer.” Spartanburg Water posted the following statement on Facebook: “Today’s (Thursday’s) events have certainly been difficult for our Spartanburg Water family. We are thankful that both of our employees are in good condition and their gunshot injuries were not life-threatening. We are grateful for the incredible work done today by our City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County law enforcement officials and first responders. Our hearts are with all those impacted by today’s senseless acts of violence, and we continue to hold our employees affected and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”
Authorities released new details Friday after six people were shot and two killed in a Thursday shooting and standoff near Cleveland Park in Spartanburg County.
Coroner Rusty Clevenger identified one of the victims as Charter Communications employee Perry James McIntyre, 49, of Landrum.
Officials said McIntyre was on a service call at the home on Amelia Street where the standoff took place.
Deputies released a previous booking photo of the suspect, 45-year-old Shannon Earl Smith, who died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after being shot during the standoff, according to Clevenger.
Public records show Smith lived at the Amelia Street home.
The records also showed his criminal history in Spartanburg County goes back to 1998, including drug charges, simple assault and battery and public disorderly conduct.
The shooting incident began about 2:30 p.m. when a man, later identified by authorities as Smith, walked up to a Spartanburg Water crew working near his home and asked what they were doing.
He asked the employees what they were doing, and after they told him they were working on a sewer main repair he started shooting, according to Jennifer Candler, communications director for Spartanburg Water.
The two employees were shot and officials said they are expected to be OK, but details of their conditions were not released.
According to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Smith then went to his home and barricaded himself inside.
During the course of the standoff with law enforcement officers, a woman suffered at least one gunshot wound that appears to be non-life-threatening, Lt. Ryan Flood, with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, said.
Flood said a deputy with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was also shot and is expected to recover.
Sheriff Chuck Wright with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office asked for prayers for everyone involved. He talked about the tough choices his deputies and others had to make.
“I don’t know of anybody else except an American soldier that has to make these choices. That’s the reason why I respect them so much. I want the community to know that we are out here trying to have peace. We are going to do whatever it takes to have peace in our community,” Wright said. “I’m here for you, the city is here for you. We didn’t like these outcomes either but we didn’t dictate it and we never do.”
A spokeswoman for Charter Communications sent WYFF News 4 the following statement Friday morning:
“It is with a heavy heart we share the devastating news that the life of Perry McIntyre, one of our Spartanburg-based Field Technicians, was needlessly taken yesterday afternoon near Cleveland Park. Perry was an expert at his craft and was with our company family for nine years. Words cannot express our grief over the loss of our colleague, mentor and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Perry’s family and loved ones. We will continue to work with Greenville County Sheriff’s office as they investigate this tragedy.”
Clevenger said Smith died in the operating room from a gunshot wound.
Smith’s aunt said she got the news around midnight. She said she never expected something like this to happen.
“It shocks me that he’s accused of doing all this, because I cannot see him doing this,” Smith’s aunt Marilyn Murphy said.
Murphy said Smith lived in the home with his mother. She said his mother was also shot during the standoff and taken to the hospital.
Murphy said her nephew has always been a caring person.
“My family is taking this kind of hard because they can’t believe it,” Murphy said. “That’s how we’re doing. We just can’t believe it. This is not Shannon. I’m like everybody. I want to know how it happened and what triggered it all.”
Murphy said she thinks something must have set Smith off. She doesn’t know what could have lead to this.
“I did not see this coming. I tell you, when I heard about it, it just blew me away,” Murphy said. “I couldn’t believe it, and even the whole family couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t see Shannon doing this. So I say he had to have been triggered or something snapped.”
Murphy also sent her condolences to the victims and their families.
“I’m so sorry it happened,” Murphy said. “I’m so sorry it happened like that. That things turned out like that. I’m so sorry. My heart goes out to them.”
Murphy said she still hasn’t had time to process everything. She said she wishes she had known something could’ve been wrong.
“As a family, we should try to stay closer to each other and know where each other is at in their minds and everywhere,” Murphy said. “Everywhere. Because this right here, we didn’t see coming and didn’t know it was coming. We should’ve been closer.”
Spartanburg Water posted the following statement on Facebook:
“Today’s (Thursday’s) events have certainly been difficult for our Spartanburg Water family. We are thankful that both of our employees are in good condition and their gunshot injuries were not life-threatening. We are grateful for the incredible work done today by our City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County law enforcement officials and first responders. Our hearts are with all those impacted by today’s senseless acts of violence, and we continue to hold our employees affected and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”