A routine traffic stop on a highway nine miles west of Chester, South Carolina, turned deadly for Trooper John Clinton. The 40-year-old, a sixteen-year veteran of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, had pulled over a vehicle and discovered it was stolen. The driver was also wanted in connection with an armed robbery. As Trooper Clinton attempted to handcuff the suspect, a struggle broke out.
The suspect managed to gain control of Trooper Clinton's service weapon and fired multiple shots, striking the officer in the face and chest.
After shooting the trooper, the assailant dragged his body into a nearby ditch and fled the scene. The suspect abandoned the stolen vehicle a short distance away and attempted to hide in a wooded area. Law enforcement officers later discovered the suspect in a cave-like area with the handcuffs still on one wrist. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Trooper Clinton was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was survived by his wife, three children, and a grandchild.
In a separate and unrelated incident, 19-year-old John Robert Clinton of Rock Hill, South Carolina, died following a wakeboarding accident on Lake Wateree. An avid sportsman and a rising sophomore at Clemson University, he was known for his love of water sports. The accident occurred when he hit his head on the water while wakeboarding. He was transported to a hospital in Columbia where he passed away the following day.
Known for his vibrant personality and strong faith, the young man was a graduate of Northwestern High School and was studying Industrial Engineering. He was an active member of his fraternity and had made the Dean's List during his freshman year of college. Described by his family as someone who lived life to the fullest, his death was considered a tragic accident. There were no suspects or arrests associated with this event. At the age of 16, he had registered as an organ donor, and his decision allowed for several of his organs to be donated.
