Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Tyler Mendez
Age : 27
Gender : Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 08/11/2022
Location : Unknown
City : Eutawville
County : Orangeburg
State : South Carolina
Agency : Eutawville PD
Officer(s) :Sean Hopkins
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed in shootout with police under undisclosed circumstances
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/12/2022, an officer with the Eutawville Police Department responded to a call for service on Cleveland Street in Eutawville. During the encounter, police confronted 27-year-old Tyler Mendez, who was armed with a firearm.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), an exchange of gunfire occurred between the officer and Mendez. Mendez was struck by police gunfire and died at the scene. No officers were injured. SLED was requested to conduct the independent investigation.
Attorney Michael Laubshire, representing Eutawville Police Chief Sean Hopkins, confirmed that Hopkins was one of the officers involved in the shooting. At the time of the incident, Eutawville employed only two police officers, including Chief Hopkins.
SLED completed its investigation and submitted the case to the appropriate prosecutor for review. Public reporting identified Chief Sean Hopkins as an involved officer, but no additional officers were publicly identified in the available records.
