Family: Pastor shot by police had recently separated from wife

LANCASTER, S.C. — Officers from the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division are investigating an officer-involved shooting at the Carolina Corner store on Highway 521 in Lancaster.

The sheriff told Channel 9 the initial call appeared to be domestic-related.

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Law enforcement responded and at least one deputy fired shots and struck the man, the sheriff said.

He later died. Family members said the victim is Darrell Morgan. Neighbors said he is a church pastor.

SLED said Friday morning it is still investigating the shooting.

Morgan and his wife recently separated, which may have led to the confrontation. They had been married for over 30 years.

SLED told reporter Alexa Ashwell his estranged wife entered the store around 2:15 p.m. Morgan came into the store shortly thereafter.

Officials said the couple spoke and things began to escalate. Morgan pulled out a gun and the store clerk called 911.

Deputies arrived about nine minutes later. Morgan made threatening gestures at deputies, officials said. Two deputies then fired at him, because they felt he presented an immediate threat. Officials have not said if Morgan fired his weapon.

The Lancaster County Sheriff told Channel 9’s Alexa Ashwell on Friday he doesn’t plan to identify the two deputies involved in the shooting until next week.

His estranged wife was not injured.

SLED said both deputies are on paid administrative leave, which is the standard policy of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.

The couple has two adult sons. Morgan was on the phone with one of them during the incident.

Morgan’s sister said the son may have been on the phone when the shooting occurred.

Thursday's incident is the 22nd officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2015 and the first this year by a Lancaster County Sheriff's deputy. In 2014, there were 42 officer-involved shootings in South Carolina, one of which involved a Lancaster County Sheriff's deputy.

WSOC