In the winter of 1993, the city of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was rocked by the death of a dedicated public servant. Thomas Clyde Harrison Jr., a 38-year-old Caucasian male, served his community as a Sergeant with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. His decade-long career was brought to a sudden and violent end on January 15th of that year, inside the bustling Prince of Orange Mall.
On that fateful Friday, Sergeant Harrison was at the Belk department store, following up on a
lead involving three individuals suspected of passing forged checks. Unbeknownst to the seasoned officer, these were not petty criminals. The suspects were entangled in a far more sinister plot, having recently kidnapped a businessman and disposed of his body within Orangeburg County. As Sergeant Harrison began to question one of the men about his identity, the situation escalated with terrifying speed. The suspect, cornered and desperate, pulled out a handgun.
The first shot was a ricochet, the bullet striking the floor before finding its mark in Sergeant Harrison's abdomen. But the assault did not end there. The assailant then fired five more rounds at point-blank range, killing the officer. The brazen act of violence in a public space sent shockwaves through the community and left a void in the hearts of those who knew and respected the fallen sergeant. He was survived by his wife, son, and parents.
The investigation that followed was swift and determined. The man responsible for Sergeant Harrison's murder, Thomas T. Ivey, was apprehended. His legal journey was a long and arduous one, culminating in a conviction for the murder of the officer, as well as for the killing of the Columbia businessman, Robert Montgomery. Ivey was sentenced to death for his crimes. After years of appeals, justice was ultimately carried out. On May 7, 2009, Thomas T. Ivey was executed by lethal injection, closing a painful chapter for the family of Sergeant Harrison and the community he served with honor.
