An Upstate South Carolina man has been charged in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in Greer, S.C. earlier this year.
Timothy Wayne Gibson, 40, of Piedmont, S.C. was charged with the attempted murder of Brian Wingard – a Greer, S.C. city police officer who discharged his weapon during the late January incident. According to a probable cause affidavit accompanying his arrest warrant (.pdf), Gibson tried to kill Wingard by driving his vehicle into the law enforcement officer – striking him and causing him to roll over the top of the car.
Wingard suffered a knee injury during the incident, which occurred on January 24 near the intersection of the J. Verne Smith Parkway and Victor Avenue Extension in Greer.
Gibson sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound after Wingard fired at him.
What happened? So far all we know is that Wingard was investigating a “suspicious vehicle” – which struck him as he approached it. According to police, he “feared for his life” and discharged his weapon.
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[/timed-content-server]As a matter of protocol, all officer-involved shootings in the Palmetto State are handled by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Upon completion of its inquiry into the matter, SLED will forward its findings to the solicitor with jurisdiction over the county where the shooting took place.
In this case that would be S.C. seventh circuit solicitor Barry Barnette.
South Carolina set a new record in 2017 with 49 officer-involved shootings. Through the first forty days of the new year there have already been five such incidents.
As with any defendant accused of any crime, Gibson is considered innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his peers (or until he makes a public pleading in connection with the case).
Stay tuned … we will be sure to keep our readers updated on the status of this ongoing case.
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