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Man who ambushed York County officers pleads guilty

YORK, SC — The man who killed a York County deputy and shot three other officers pleaded guilty Tuesday morning.

Christian McCall ambushed the four officers back in January when they responded to a domestic violence call.

York County Detective Mike Doty was shot and later died at the hospital. The three other officers -- Deputies Buddy Brown and Randy Clinton and York police Officer Kyle Cummings -- were injured but survived the shooting.

 

(Sgt. Mike Doty, Sgt. Randy Clinton, Sgt. Buddy Brown, Sgt. Kyle Cummings)

Brown was the one who last spoke right before the officers were ambushed.

They saw the deck behind a house and Brown said they should clear it before moving on and that's when McCall opened fire.

Brown didn't realize he had been shot in the helmet.

McCall's defense attorney - Chief Public Defender Harry Dest - told the judge McCall is not mentally ill and never showed any signs of mental illness. He said the events the night of the shooting were fueled by “alcohol and fear.”

Christian McCall - Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office 

Before the shooting, McCall was the picture of an upstanding family man. He was a successful banker, a veteran and a father of two. However, arrest warrants say there was also a dark side to him.

One night in January when McCall was accused of hurting his wife, she called 911 for help.  When deputies rushed in, the sheriff says McCall hid in the woods and ambushed the officers.

Channel 9's coverage on the deadly shooting: 

McCall was charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, four counts of using a weapon during a violent crime, and first-degree domestic violence. He faced the possibility of the death penalty if he went to trial.

The judge asked McCall to stand while she addressed him. Dest said he’s had five medical operations since he was also wounded in the shooting, and wouldn't be able to be on his feet long. He stood propped between his two attorneys.

By pleaded guilty, McCall waives all rights to appeals or any post-conviction hearings. His sentence is life without parole.

For Tuesdays' hearing, the courtroom was packed with law enforcement officers. Prosecutors played the gut-wrenching audio of McCall's wife calling 911 as he continued to beat her. He also showed the assault-style rifle McCall used and a military helmet he was wearing.

The solicitor told the judge the plea deal is what Detective Mike Doty's family wanted. His parents and twin brother were in the courtroom, watching silently.

Solicitor Kevin Brackett also held up Brown's helmet in court, which had a mark on it where a bullet went through several layers of Kevlar.

Brown suffered a concussion due to the impact on his helmet.

The three other law enforcement officers shot by McCall were in court for the sentencing too.

Brackett said there was so much heroism that night it would be impossible to recount it all and give credit to everyone.

One officer had to be treated for hypothermia, Brackett said.

The officer's job was to watch and maintain the crime scene after the shooting. He didn't want to leave and stayed out there too long and got hypothermia.

"The first thing Mike's mother did when she got out at the funeral of her son was come over and give me a hug," Deputy Brown said.

Brown said seeing McCall across the courtroom was painful.

"A lot of emotions,” Brown said. “It was difficult to see him here, but also it made me feel good that this thing was getting wrapped up."