Attorney for family of Seneca teen shot, killed by police calls for grand jury investigation

An attorney representing the family of a teen who was shot and killed Sunday by a Seneca police officer has requested that the S.C. Attorney General call for a State Grand Jury investigation into the incident.

Eric Bland, of the Bland Richter law firm based in Columbia and Charleston, was retained by 19-year-old Zachary Hammond’s family following Hammond’s death.

“This is a most troubling incident that needs to be fully investigated by independent law enforcement and judicial officials,” Bland said in a statement. “We believe that a statewide grand jury needs to be impaneled to look into the circumstance of why deadly force was used in this matter.”

Bland said Hammond was shot from behind during a traffic stop and that his vehicle was not moving, which is contrary to initial police reports that Hammond allegedly drove his vehicle at the officer in the parking lot of a Hardee’s.

The officer who shot Hammond was in uniform, assisting an undercover narcotics investigation, and felt threatened when Hammond’s car was aimed at him, Seneca Police Chief John Covington told The (Anderson) Independent Mail.

Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis said Hammond was shot twice – one non-fatal shot through the collarbone-shoulder region and one fatal shot through the chest.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division officials are investigating the shooting. The officer who fired the fatal shots has been put on administrative leave, Addis said.

Bland said Hammond was with his girlfriend Tori Morton, who was eating ice cream in the car, at the time of the shooting. Morton was later charged with a $500 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia, and she was released on her own recognizance.

Several media reports have said a small amount of marijuana was found outside of the car following the shooting, however Bland said this has not been 100 percent confirmed.

This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Attorney for family of Seneca teen shot, killed by police calls for grand jury investigation."