Joseph John Matuskovic, a 43-year-old male, died on Monday, September 8, 2014, in West Ashley, South Carolina. A veteran law enforcement officer with over 20 years of service, he was a deputy sheriff with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office at the time of his death and had previously served as a Sergeant with the City of Charleston Police Department.
On that Monday, Deputy Matuskovic and other deputies responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex located at the intersection
of Ashley River Road and Carriage Lane. A man had been reported pounding on apartment doors and vehicles in the parking lot before retreating into his own apartment. When deputies attempted to make contact with the individual, he opened fire through his apartment door.
The man, identified as Michael Donovan Oswald, used a military-style rifle, described as being similar to an AK-47, to shoot at the deputies. Deputy Matuskovic was struck by several rounds that penetrated his protective vest. Another deputy was also hit by the gunfire. Both wounded deputies were pulled to safety and transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Deputy Matuskovic succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Hours later, the Charleston Police Department SWAT team entered the suspect's apartment and found him deceased from what was determined to be at least two gunshot wounds sustained from the deputies' return fire.
