Man armed with sword, screwdriver and hammer killed by deputy, SC cops say
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said it’s investigating a recent incident in the Upstate where a deputy shot and killed an armed man.
The June 5 shooting involved a deputy with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, SLED said in a news release.
The deputy responded to a report of a person in possible need of medical attention near a home on Roger Drive in Pelzer, according to the release. At the home, the deputy found a man in a camper who was later identified as 70-year-old David Milton, SLED said.
During the incident, Milton grabbed a sword, then a hammer, and then a screwdriver from inside the camper, according to the release.
The deputy repeatedly tried to get Milton to an ambulance at the scene, SLED said. During the encounter, there was an altercation where Milton was armed with the screwdriver and the deputy shot the 70-year-old, according to the release.
Milton died at the scene, SLED said.
No law enforcement officers were hurt, and no other injuries were reported, according to the release.
The sheriff’s office asked SLED to lead an investigation into the shooting.
There was no word if the deputy involved in the shooting has been temporarily reassigned or removed from duty during what SLED called an ongoing investigation.
This was the 18th shooting this year in South Carolina that involved a law enforcement officer, and there were 45 similar incidents in 2025, according to SLED.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 8:29 AM with the headline "Man armed with sword, screwdriver and hammer killed by deputy, SC cops say."
