Coroner: Man’s death in Chapin ‘justifiable homicide’ after domestic violence incident

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts ruled the death of Keith Dominick, 53, by blood loss and strangulation “justifiable homicide,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release Wednesday evening.

Dominick died at the lakeside home of his ex-girlfriend after he broke in Tuesday night and threatened her with a gun, Lott said.

During the break-in at 531 Hiller Road in Chapin on Lake Murray, Dominick “severely cut his arm in the process” of forcing his way into the home by breaking the glass of the front door, Lott said.

Once inside, the victim ran to her bedroom after he threatened her with his gun. She wrestled with him and knocked the gun out of his hand, Lott said. She was then able to pin him to the floor when he tried to retrieve the gun.

“The victim feared if he was able to reach the gun he would kill her,” Lott said.

Dominick was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The Coroner stated that this is a justifiable homicide in light of the circumstances surrounding the case,” Lott said.

Dominick was a figure of some note in the local Southern Rock music scene. The Keith Dominick Band was scheduled to perform Friday night at the Frayed Knot Bar and Grill in Chapin. The popular watering hole had no comment on Dominick’s death Wednesday night.

In this video, posted on You Tube, The Keith Dominick Band performs a Merle Haggard Tribute concert at the Newberry Opera House on Friday August 26th, 2016.

On Dominick’s Facebook page, friends were expressing shock on Wednesday.

This story was originally published June 14, 2017 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Coroner: Man’s death in Chapin ‘justifiable homicide’ after domestic violence incident."