Autopsy shows Camden teen was shot in the back of the head

A judge heard a story of two Camden fathers, one charged with killing the other, at Jimmy Methe’s bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Methe, 49, was charged with voluntary manslaughter after he shot and killed 17-year-old Brandon Spencer early Saturday morning because he said he caught the teen breaking into his truck, which was parked in front of his house.

Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said Saturday that Methe was charged because Spencer was fleeing the scene. Matthews said Wednesday an autopsy revealed Spencer was shot in the back of the head.

Methe told deputies he warned both people – twice – as they tried to flee, ordering them to freeze, and threatening to shoot, a prosecutor told the judge.

Spencer’s grandmother, Ranel Willoughby, told the court her grandson had a 2-year-old son who will now never get to know his father.

“His daddy won’t be there to support him,” she said. “He won’t be able to play football with him.”

Spencer is from North Carolina and was living with his grandmother, Matthews said.

Three of Methe’s friends addressed the court during the hearing, testifying that he will not be a flight risk if released, and that his family needs him out of jail and able to support them.

One of those friends, Kershaw County resident Rebecca Truett, told the judge Methe and his family were among the first people she met when she came to the area.

“My husband recently was diagnosed with cancer, and Jim offered to come over and help with anything we needed during his illness,” she said. “They’re just wonderful, outstanding people.”

The sheriff also spoke, saying that he did not encourage others to follow Methe’s example in similar situations, but that he would find a low bond or personal recognizance bond acceptable.

Prosecutors asked the judge to issue a high bond.

Deputies responded at about 3 a.m. Saturday to Methe’s Norden Drive address. Methe told them he had shot a person, later identified as Spencer, after seeing Spencer and another person stealing items from his truck, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Methe told law enforcement the two did not say anything as they fled, and that he did not see any weapons or any of his property in their hands, according to prosecutors.

Spencer did not have any of Methe’s property on him when law enforcement found his body, prosecutors said.

Methe has lived in Camden since 1996, according to Assistant Public Defender Kris Hines. Methe was in the military for 12 years, served in Desert Storm and works in Camden as an independent animal control contractor.

Judge Casey Manning did not set a bond Wednesday but said he would decide later this week or early next week after considering the information.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 3:20 PM.