SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Florence County
Friday, Jul 26, 2024
Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Florence County.
Officers with the Florence Police Department and Florence County Sheriff’s Office responded to Brittany Place, an apartment complex, to serve a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Murder for Matthew Barry, 41. Law enforcement officers encountered Barry, who was armed. Barry barricaded himself inside of his apartment in the complex. Following an exchange of gunfire, Barry was shot by officers. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the Florence Police Department and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Florence County was the 27th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Florence Police Department this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Florence Police Department had no officer involved shootings last year.
