Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Spartanburg Methodist College Officer Fatally Shoots Man During Arrest Attempt

SAXON, S.C. — A tragic incident occurred on New Year’s Day when a Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC) campus safety officer fatally shot a man during an attempted arrest. The officer encountered the man driving the wrong way down a one-way street on campus, resulting in a physical altercation that led to the fatal shooting, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency (SLED).

The incident took place in the early morning hours and unfolded when the armed SMC officer pulled over a white Ford F-150 on campus. The driver, later identified as 48-year-old Victor Figueroa Roblero, resisted arrest, leading to a confrontation with the officer. During the altercation, the officer discharged his weapon, resulting in Roblero’s death.

Roblero was pronounced dead at the scene around 1:05 a.m. His identity was not immediately released due to difficulties in locating his next-of-kin. The officer involved in the incident sustained injuries and received medical treatment at a hospital. The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and Spartanburg Police Department provided assistance in responding to the incident.

Fortunately, no students were on campus at the time of the incident as the college was closed for winter break. Spartanburg Methodist College is a private two-year junior college with approximately 1,000 students, according to SMC spokesperson Jeremy Handel.

This is not the first time an SMC campus safety officer has been involved in a fatal shooting. In a previous incident in 2015, another officer shot and killed a man who had allegedly hit him with a car while attempting to flee. The officer was investigating a car break-in behind a campus dormitory when he encountered two suspects. One suspect was apprehended, but the other got into a vehicle and struck the officer, leading to the use of lethal force.

SMC’s campus safety department consists of SLED-certified officers and Class 1 Police Officers who have undergone basic law enforcement training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

In a similar incident in September 2021 in California, a school safety officer from the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) fatally shot an 18-year-old girl following an altercation between her and another student. The officer fired shots as the girl tried to flee in a vehicle, resulting in her being left brain-dead and eventually taken off life support. The school district settled with the victim’s family for $13 million, and the officer was charged with murder.

It is crucial for law enforcement agencies and educational institutions to carefully review use-of-force policies to ensure the safety of everyone involved. By providing comprehensive training and establishing clear guidelines, these organizations can work towards preventing similar incidents in the future.

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