Two South Carolina women were found dead after a house fire in suburban Greenville on Wednesday, and the man suspected of killing them and setting the fire to cover up the murder was later shot dead in a confrontation with police.
The investigation began just before 2 p.m. Wednesday when authorities were called to a burning home near Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville County, WYFF reported. The two women, whose names have not been released, were found inside with trauma to their bodies, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Hobart Lewis said that the small fire was apparently set to cover the crime scene and that investigators had a person of interest in the murders.
About five hours later, deputies with the both the Greenville and Spartanburg County Sheirff’s Offices arrived at a home in Landrum, just minutes from the North Carolina state line, in search of the suspect in the murders and fire.
“After several call outs were unsuccessful, the person of interest exited the residence brandishing a firearm, and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin Bobo said in a news release.
The suspect was killed. Authorities have not released his name, but Lewis told WSPA that he had recently been released from jail.
At least one deputy from each agency fired their weapons, authorities told the Post and Courier. Landrum City Police officers were also on the scene, but it’s not clear if any of them fired. The department declined comment.
Both sheriff’s offices asked that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigate the shooting.
Greenville County Sheriff’s Lt. Ryan Flood said his agency would release body camera footage on March 2.
