In the quiet community of Gaston, South Carolina, a long-simmering family conflict tragically erupted in violence on Sunday, September 18, 2022, leading to the death of 52-year-old Brian Garris. The male victim was shot and killed in what authorities have described as the culmination of an ongoing dispute with his stepfather. The incident unfolded in the 100 block of Landfill Lane, where Garris lived next to his alleged assailant.
The disagreement that proved to be fatal centered around
Garris borrowing a vehicle belonging to his 71-year-old stepfather, Carl Sims, the previous night. This seemingly minor issue was the final catalyst in a history of family tension. Following the shooting, deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and promptly arrested Sims.
Carl Sims was taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of his stepson. He was subsequently booked into the Lexington County Detention Center to await a bond hearing. Sheriff Jay Koon stated that the investigation indicated the shooting was the result of a 'long-running family dynamic' between the two men. The community was left to grapple with a death that stemmed from a domestic dispute turned deadly.
