In the spring of 2023, the life of 34-year-old Michael Calvin Keeler, Jr., a male from Waterloo, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. On the evening of Wednesday, April 5th, Keeler was turkey hunting with another individual in the expansive Cliff Pitts Wildlife Management Area, a tract of forested land in Laurens County. It was during this hunting excursion, at approximately 6:00 PM, that Keeler sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
First responders were called to the scene, located on game management land off of Highway 252, but Keeler was pronounced dead at the scene.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources immediately launched an investigation into the shooting, treating it as a hunting accident. The Laurens County Coroner's Office confirmed the cause of death and an autopsy was scheduled to be performed in Greenville to gather more information. Due to the active nature of the investigation, officials have been tight-lipped about the specific details surrounding the incident, urging the public to rely only on official sources for information and to avoid speculation. As of now, authorities have not released any information regarding any arrests or suspects in connection with the death of Michael Calvin Keeler, Jr. The investigation remains ongoing to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting.
