By Greg Oliver
Courtesy The Journal

goliver@upstatetoday.com

EASLEY — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the shooting of an Easley woman last Wednesday that ultimately led to the shooter taking his own life.

Chief deputy Creed Hashe said Thursday the sheriff’s office is still seeking answers into the unexplained shooting of a 45-year-old female resident on Robert P. Jeanes Road. The shooting occurred at approximately 11:57 a.m. as the victim was struck by shotgun pellets fired at her while standing on her front porch.

“The victim advised deputies that she was shot by a neighbor that lived across the street for unknown reasons,” Hashe said in a prepared statement. “There were no previous interactions or communications between the two that have been discovered by sheriff’s detectives at this stage into the investigation.”

Calvin Joseph Benton Jr., 59, who was found dead by authorities, was positively identified by the victim at the hospital by means of a photo lineup. A judge had issued an arrest warrant for Benton on the charge of attempted murder.

The victim was treated and released from Greenville Memorial Hospital.

A preliminary investigation regarding a timeline of events was also provided by Hashe, stating that the victim was shot while standing on the front porch of her residence with her dog. But the chief deputy said the victim was able to walk back out on the porch to retrieve her cellphone, which had been dropped as she was shot the first time.

Hashe said the victim was shot a second time but able to see the shooter standing in his yard across the street. She recognized him as the neighbor as he yelled at her, stating, “If you want, I’ll shoot you again,” but did not know the shooter’s name.

Deputies were dispatched to the scene shortly before noon, with the first deputy quickly interviewing the victim. Additional deputies arrived to assist and approach the residence where the shooter was believed to be inside.

Around noon, deputies spotted the male subject standing in the doorway of a residence on Robert P. Jeanes Road. While attempting to engage the subject in conversation, deputies reported he appeared “agitated and confrontational.” Deputies stated the subject refused to exit the residence and made statements indicating he was armed.

After the subject slammed and locked the door, the sheriff’s office deployed its Special Weapons and Tactics team, which secured nearby streets.

At 12:45 p.m., Hashe said the sheriff’s office crisis negotiation team proceeded to attempt making contact with the subject in residence, with numerous phone calls, but no contact. Additional attempts to contact the subject via a public address system and bullhorn also proved unsuccessful.

During that time, sheriff’s detectives presented information to the Pickens County magistrate who, in turn, issued a search warrant for the residence under the premise of locating the assailant and or evidence from the shooting.

At 2:32 p.m., the shooter was positively identified and a judge issued an arrest warrant for Benton. At 3:10 p.m., the tactical team inserted less-lethal chemical munitions into the residence in an effort to persuade the subject to surrender.

Hashe said officers forced entry into the residence at 3:36 p.m. following failed attempts to persuade the subject to communicate or surrender. The house was found to be barricaded with plywood in multiple locations.

Two minutes later, officers gained entry and found Benton deceased, face down in the front room of the residence with no one else inside. At 4 p.m., Hashe said the scene was processed by the forensics team and four weapons located and seized from the residence — including two 12-gauge shotguns, two semi-automatic handguns. Both pistols and one shotgun were found loaded and within arm’s reach of the suspect. One of the pistols was discovered inside the pants pocket of the subject.

Hashe said there were no visible signs of trauma found on Benton.