Richland County coroner identifies suspect killed in Lake Carolina Drive shooting

The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the suspect who was shot and killed by a Lake Carolina resident Tuesday morning.

Coroner Gary Watts said 19-year-old Derrick Finney was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the upper body.

Although the Richland County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the shooting, Watts said Finney was shot by a home owner in self defense.

Sgt. Kevin Lawrence, a department spokesman, said deputies were dispatched to the 200 block of Baysdale Drive, near Lake Carolina Drive, in reference to a 1 a.m. shooting.

Lawrence said when deputies arrived, the victim told them he heard a loud noise outside his home, looked out his back door and observed another man going through his vehicle.

The man told deputies he stepped outside to confront the suspect, but the suspect began striking him with an unidentified object, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the victim was able to retrieve a handgun and shot the suspect. The suspect fled from the home but collapsed 100 yards away.

A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division background check reveals that Finney was facing a misdemeanor charge of violating a city ordinance in Lexington County.