In the past week, officers from the same South Carolina police department have shot and killed men in separate incidents, according to the Pickens County Coroner’s Office.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is leading the investigations into the fatal shootings involving the Easley Police Department.
The first shooting by Easley police
The first shooting happened July 8, when 26-year-old Greer resident Nicholas Elias Fernandez died, according to the coroner’s office.
Easley police responded to multiple 911 calls about a man armed with a baseball bat, who was making threats and shoplifting before leaving a Tractor Supply Company store, SLED said. He was later identified as Fernandez.
An officer encountered Fernandez outside a nearby home, who was then armed with an ax, according to SLED. During an altercation, the officer shot Fernandez, who died at the scene, SLED said.
Fernandez was shot multiple times at 752 Rolling Hills Circle, according to the coroner’s office. That’s about a mile from the Tractor Supply store.
No law enforcement officers were injured, SLED said.
A second shooting by Easley police
Easley police said they were involved in another shooting Saturday.
At about 1:30 p.m., officers responded to a call about a domestic violence incident where a man shoved a woman, causing her to hit her head, at 117 Scott Ave., according to police.
At the home, officers saw a woman and child standing outside and also saw a man go inside the home, police said. Some officers began speaking to the woman and child, while other officers tried to make contact with the man — who barricaded himself in the home — according to police.
A short time later, the man opened a door and pointed a weapon at officers, prompting at least one to fire their duty weapon, police said.
Daniel Scott McGoldrick, a 35-year-old Easley resident, was identified as the man who died in the shooting, according to the coroner’s office.
Police did not report any other injuries from the shooting, and further information on the condition of the woman involved in the domestic violence incident was not available.
As was the case in the July 8 shooting, police asked SLED to lead an investigation. The coroner’s office said it’s assisting in both investigations.
A previous shooting by Easley police
There have now been three shootings involving Easley police officers this year, according to SLED. In 2023, Easley police officers were not involved in any shootings, SLED said.
The previous shooting this year involving Easley police happened April 21, when 33-year-old Easley resident Shawn Elrod was killed inside of a Walmart, according to the coroner’s office.
Officers were responding to a call about a person causing a disturbance inside the Walmart, and learned that Elrod was armed with a hatchet, law enforcement officials said. At the scene, officers located Elrod and although they tried to calm the situation, at least one officer fired their gun, according to police.
SLED said no officers were hurt, and no other injuries were reported in the April shooting.
Across South Carolina, law enforcement officers have been involved in at least 25 shootings in 2024, after 43 instances a year ago, according to SLED.
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