A Laurens County (S.C.) Sheriff's deputy was fatally shot Wednesday night by a man who had allegedly killed his girlfriend earlier in the evening.
Dep. Roger Rice, who had completed police training in January, died as a result of gunfire sustained during a shootout with Bennie Ray Brown Jr., who had been released from jail two weeks ago and has a 20-year arrest record in the state. Brown's past three convictions were for criminal domestic violence charges.
Dep. Rice was killed while searching for Brown at a home at 545 Barrel Stave Road around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to the home after finding Brown's girlfriend, Nichole Kingsborough, shot to death in her car at her workplace, the Fehrer Automotive plant.
Dep. Rice was married with two young children. On Wednesday, he was filling in on the late-night shift for another deputy.
Source: WSPA, Fox Carolina