Man killed by Horry County police was a 26-year law enforcement veteran, coroner says
A 26-year law enforcement veteran was shot and killed by Horry County police last week, officials say.
Wade Phillips, 49, was shot and killed in a shooting on Amberwood Court, Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said on Monday. Edge confirmed that Phillips served in law enforcement for 26 years in Virginia.
The shooting happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday at a subdivision off Dick Pond Road.
Officials have been mum on many details of the shooting as South Carolina Law Enforcement agents continue to investigate. It typically takes months after an officer-involved shooting before SLED releases its final report.
The officers involved in the shooting remain on paid leave, county spokeswoman Kelly Moore said.
A witness said Phillips started to bang on his door around 8 p.m. Richard Gould answered the door, where Phillips confronted him. Gould told The Sun News that Phillips said he recently had two friends die.
Gould said he asked what happened, which is when Phillip began to ask if he had a problem with the police.
The argument escalated until the Gould family had to slam the door shut to keep Phillips from getting inside. It was moments later, Gould saw Phillips carrying a rifle bag as police arrived at the scene.
Gould said Phillips removed the rifle and shot out the back window of a police cruiser. The Gould family took cover on the ground as the shooting unfolded.
“Then I heard the rifle shots. Then I heard the pistol shots,” Gould said. “Then I heard quiet.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 1:30 PM.
