In the late hours of a Tuesday in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a sequence of events unfolded that would end in tragedy. Kevin Earl Carper, a 39-year-old male, was on duty as a Deputy Sheriff for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office on February 27, 2007. A veteran of the department for 12 years, he was conducting a routine traffic stop on Midway Park Drive shortly after 10:00 p.m. when the driver of the vehicle unexpectedly fled on foot.
A foot pursuit immediately ensued.
Deputy Carper chased the suspect, and a struggle broke out when he caught up to him. In the midst of the confrontation, the suspect produced a. 38 caliber handgun and fired at Deputy Carper, striking him twice. One of the rounds was stopped by his protective vest, but the second, tragically, found its way into the armhole of the vest, inflicting a fatal wound to his chest.
Despite his grievous injuries, Deputy Carper, along with a second deputy who had arrived on the scene, returned fire, striking the assailant. The suspect was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Deputy Carper was also rushed to the hospital, but he too passed away from his wounds.
The man who shot Deputy Carper was killed at the scene, and as a result, no arrests were made in connection with the deputy's death. The incident left the community mourning the loss of a dedicated officer who was survived by his wife and three daughters. His dedication to service and the ultimate sacrifice he made are remembered by his colleagues and the citizens he served.
