SEE AMAZON.COM DEALS FOR TODAY

SHOP NOW

Accident – death – Obituary News :

A suspect involved in a tragic incident has been identified after being fatally shot by officers in Landrum. The suspect, Gary Pratt Whitten, 36, from Taylors, SC, was allegedly responsible for the murder of his mother and ex-girlfriend.

The shocking development unfolded in Greenville County on Wednesday, January 17th, when two women were found dead in a house fire on Millebrooke Circle. The victims have been identified as Kelli Whitten, 56, the suspect’s mother, and Anissa Henderson, 55.

Following the double homicide, law enforcement officers tracked down Gary Whitten to Kirby Street in Landrum. As Whitten emerged from a mobile home with a firearm, multiple officers from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office opened fire, resulting in Whitten’s death at the scene. Fortunately, no officers were injured during the confrontation.

Authorities were able to locate Whitten using license plate cameras, which led them to Kirby Street. The investigation also revealed that Whitten had a history of domestic violence with Henderson, as she had previously filed a report against him in December. He was arrested but later released on bail, with an ankle monitor as part of his conditions of detention.

On the day of the incident, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office received a tampering alert on Whitten’s ankle monitor. It was discovered that he had turned off the monitor before stealing a car from the residence and fleeing the scene. The subsequent pursuit ended tragically in Landrum, where Whitten was confronted by law enforcement officers.

During a news conference, Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger expressed gratitude for the collaboration between the two counties’ law enforcement agencies. He commended their swift response and thorough investigation, which helped capture crucial evidence related to the crimes committed by Whitten.

Clevenger confirmed that fingerprint data in the national crime database was utilized to positively identify Gary Whitten. However, he stated that there was no apparent reason for Whitten to be in the Landrum area following his criminal activities in Greenville County.

The ongoing investigation into the double murder is being conducted by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, while the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency (SLED) has been called upon to investigate the officer-involved shooting. SLED will release a critical incident community briefing video on March 2nd to provide further information.

In conclusion, the identification of Gary Pratt Whitten as the suspect behind the double murder and subsequent officer-involved shooting has brought some closure to this shocking turn of events. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies have played a crucial role in swiftly apprehending the suspect and ensuring public safety. The investigation into the tragic incident continues, and further updates will be provided by the authorities.