Suicidal Man Killed After Pointing Gun At Police Near Myrtle Beach: Authorities

SURFSIDE BEACH, SC — A police officer shot a suicidal man to death in South Carolina after he pointed a gun at officers who were negotiating with him, authorities said.

The shooting happened early Friday outside a neighborhood near Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach Police Lt. Joey Crosby said. Horry County Police were checking on a report of a suicidal man, police said.

The man refused orders to put the gun down and shot in the air at least once, police said. Negotiators were called along with the State Law Enforcement Division. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The man continued behaving erratically and was shot when he pointed the gun at an officer, Crosby said at a news conference. Police would not say whether investigators know which officer fired. Myrtle Beach Police were called because state agents were involved.

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