Deputies involved in deadly shooting have been cleared | Georgetown, SC

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Deputies involved in deadly shooting have been cleared

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Published on 7/19/2008
Written by Scott Harper

The two Georgetown County deputies who have been on administrative duty since being involved in a deadly shooting have been cleared of any wrong doing by the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
As a result of the ruling, Sgt. Dustin Morris and Deputy James Lee-Wood have been allowed to return to patrols, said Sheriff Lane Cribb.
Morris and Lee-Wood responded to the Greentown Community April 18 after 59-year-old Luke Gamble reportedly stabbed his neighbor, 24-year-old Harold James Smith who survived the attack.
According to the incident report written by Morris, he and Lee-Wood were sent to 280 Lincolnshire Drive. As they approached, the deputies saw Smith on the front steps of his home covered in blood. He had been stabbed, reportedly in the neck and arm.
He was still conscious so the deputies questioned him about who stabbed him while EMS was en route. A witness pointed to Gamble who, at that time, was standing in front of his house across the street at 18 Oxford Drive.
As the officer began to walk towards Gamble's residence, he started walking towards them "at a fast pace," the report states.
"As (Gamble) came into clear view, I observed he was holding a knife in his right hand and a long wooden stick in his left hand," Morris states. "I then drew my department-issued handgun and pointed it at the subject. I immediately instructed (Gamble) to drop the knife."
Gamble, the report states, disregarded the order and continued holding the knife with the tip up.
"(Gamble) then made the statement 'you are gonna have to shoot me'... and he showed no signs of stopping," the report states.
The deputies began walking backwards "to maintain a reactionary gap" between themselves and Gamble.
When he still refused to stop, Morris fired one round and although the bullet struck Gamble, he continued his approach towards the officers with the knife.
Even after the second shot was fired by Morris, Gamble remained on his feet and did not drop the knife, the report states.
Lee-Wood then fired a shot which also struck Gamble but he continued holding the knife.
Morris then fired the final shot and Gamble then fell on the ground, still grasping the knife. The wooden stick was underneath his body.
Gamble was then placed in handcuffs and the knife was removed from his hand and placed on the road beside him.
From the beginning, Sheriff Cribb said he felt the officers "did the right thing."
The investigation was conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. When the inquest was complete, a report on the findings was given to Solicitor Greg Hembree to determine if criminal charges were warranted.
Cribb received a letter Friday from Hembree informing him no wrongdoing on the part of either officer was found to have taken place.
“Sheriff Cribb has released (them) from administrative duty and allowed them to return to their normal duties,” a press release states.

I think the dept wanted to kill Gamble. Bull the was force to do so ,KII a man in front of there house shot down like a dog.He was someone dad.brother,uncle,friend.I feel; bad for the stabbing victom but this man will never be able to walk the streets of georgtown.U can't make me feel better about this,I know those cops was going to be let off ,I ve seen it before in the shoting of MIcheal GAmble by Georgtown police some years back . Yea what goes around will come back around I ve seen it. I just I an around to see it

Posted by joyce white on 7/27/2008

Wonder how many of you would be bashing the police if Luke has killed his victim?

Posted by Me on 7/21/2008

Is this the same guy that shot and killed Rayvon Lance years ago? If my memory serves me right I think so. But, not sure. Either way it goes did he attacked a guy and this is the reason the cops were there. People lets get a grip everything is not the cops fault. We as a people need to throw away this slave man mentality and realize our own poeple are not doing what we are supposed to do. our children are killing each other faster than any other race out there. does it not matter because it's not the cops or another race? ether way it goes once your dead your regardess of who pulled the trigger or trushed the knife or what ever method, Lets straighten up and walk right. we are our brothers keepers!

Posted by sugar bear on 7/21/2008

"According to the incident report written by Morris," SIGH and EYE-ROLL. Can we get another account of events, other than a totally (though possibly inadvertently) biased source of information like the police report written by the officer who fired the fatal shot? Don't you guys question that sort of thing? And why not even try some non-lethal techniques to disarm Gamble? Why be so trigger happy? That's a clear lack of creativity and valor and wits and everything else officers need to be effective, based on the officer's own account. I hope these guys have fun living with the fact that they are cold blooded killers.

Posted by The source of this information... on 7/20/2008

THIS IS A SAD SITUATION BECAUSE THIS MAN HAS LOSTED HIS LIFE AND IS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK FOR HIMSEF. THIS IS A GOOD OLD BOY TOWN AND RATHER YOU ARE RIGHT OR WRONG, THE POLICE, SHERIFF AND ANYONE ELSE WHO IS CONNECTED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO STICK WITH EACH OTHERS. THE ALMIGHTY GOD LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN THAT NIGHT AND HE SAW IT ALL, THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN LIE TO THE PUBLIC BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THE LIFE THAT THEY TOOK IN THE JUDGMENT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT JUSTIN FIRED HIS WEAPON THAT MANY TIMES AND LUKE DIDN;T FALL. HE MEANT TO KILL THIS MAN BUT REMEMBER WHAT GOES AROUND IN THIS GOOD OLD BOY TOWN WILL ONE DAY COME BACK TO HAUNT Y0U. I JUST HOPE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND EACH TIME THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES THEY WILL HEAR THE SOUND OF THAT GUN FIRING. EVENTUALLY THE TRUTH IS GOING TO COME OUT. DELORIIS AND HER FAMILY NOW NEEDS TO GET A GOOD CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER AND BREAK THE BANK THAT HOLDS FUNDS FOR GEORGETOWN. YES, THAT'S RIGHT DELORIS YOU AND Y0UR FAMILY CAN SUE THE CITY AND DON'T ALLOW THEM TO TELL YOU ALL THAT YOU CAN'T BECAUSE YOU CAN! GET INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVOLVED WITH THIS ACTION. I AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT ACTION THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO TAKE ABOUT THIS BAR ROOM BRAWL THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN. SHERIFF LANE CRIBB, HAVE FUN WITH THE ACTION YOU TAKE BECAUSE I WILL USE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BLACK FOLKS IN THIS TOWN MEET YOU AT THE POLLS THE NEXT TIME YOU RUN FOR SHERIFF.

Posted by KAREN YOUNG on 7/20/2008

In response to Gtwn Resident, officers are trained to shoot center mass. No shooting to "wound or disable" and no shooting weapons out of the bad guys hands.

Posted by Too Much TV on 7/20/2008

If the story details are accurate (and unfortunately you have to always question that in Georgetown County), it seems that either Gamble had no respect for the officers and was going to attack them also or he wanted his own life to end that day at the hands of the officers. The story does not say what parts of Gamble's body were shot. Were they aiming to kill or aiming to wound and disable. There is a big difference.

Posted by Gtwn Resident on 7/20/2008

Excuse me, but a knife can kill just as a gun, knives cause just as much even worse injuries as a gun that was the reason for the police being called b/c this man had already stabbed someone so severely he had to be shipped to another area hospital. Everyone is so quick to say the police shold have used their tasers, when you have someone charging at you with a weapon( car, knife, gun, pipe , whatever , anything that can cause bodily injury) which will you choose.

Posted by sick of ignorant people on 7/20/2008

Again i don't understand why the tasers were not deployed first.They seen him coming across the street with a knife and a stick.Surely a jolt from the taser would have made him drop one or both of his weapons.I don't understand how this could not have been handled differently.Without loss of life.I can't say what i would have done because i was'nt put in that situation but it's just so sad that this family and the victims family and the deputy's involved will have to live with these sad consequences.All will be in my prayers.

Posted by chris on 7/20/2008

i can't believe that someone a knife can't do as much harm as a gun? they can both kill you. I believe the deputies did the right thing. Why is it when things get this out of hand people blame the police, if the man would have put down the knife he would still be alive...end of story.

Posted by john doe on 7/20/2008

whatever happen to stun guns---and why was it so important to shoot him more than once if were paying attention in training and obviously--the knife can't do as much harm as a gun---c'mon people---did they really have to kill the man??????????????????????????????

Posted by anthony on 7/19/2008

If I recall, the officers were acting in self defense and no charges were filed against anyone.

Posted by cop friend on 7/19/2008

Were they also cleared in the bar brawl?

Posted by and the rest? on 7/19/2008

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