In the early morning hours of Valentine's Day 2018, the quiet of a Walhalla, South Carolina neighborhood was shattered by gunfire that would end the life of 63-year-old Robert Steven 'Steve' McDowell. A retired Duke Energy employee, McDowell was at his Quarter Horse Trail home with his wife when he discovered a trespasser on his property. The male intruder was 24-year-old Tyler Mark Broome, a man who was not a stranger to the McDowell family and had previously been warned to stay away from
their residence.
McDowell confronted Broome and held him at gunpoint while his wife dialed 911 to report the trespasser. Before Oconee County sheriff's deputies could arrive, the situation escalated dramatically. An exchange of gunfire erupted between McDowell and Broome. Both men were struck. McDowell sustained a life-threatening injury, and Broome was also wounded. First responders arrived to a chaotic scene and administered aid to both men before they were rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Robert McDowell succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, Tyler Broome was arrested and initially charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and entering a premises after warning. The investigation revealed that a trespass notice had been served to Broome regarding the McDowell's property months prior to the deadly encounter. As the case moved through the legal system, the initial charge of murder was addressed in court.
In October 2019, Tyler Broome's legal journey came to a conclusion. He was convicted on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, as well as pointing and presenting a firearm. The court sentenced Broome to 20 years in prison for his role in the death of Robert McDowell. The sentence also carried a concurrent five-year term for the firearms charge. During the court proceedings, it was shared that McDowell had taken early retirement to care for his wife, who was battling cancer, painting a poignant picture of the life that was tragically cut short.
