Local musician’s death during Lake Murray break-in ruled ‘justifiable homicide’

The death of local Southern rock musician Keith Dominick was ruled justifiable homicide after investigators determined Dominick broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and threatened her with a gun, officials said Wednesday.

Dominick, 53, died of blood loss and strangulation at his ex-girlfriend’s home on Lake Murray Tuesday night after he broke in and threatened her with a gun, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. Dominick “severely cut his arm” in the process of breaking glass in the front door of the home, which is on the 500 block of Hiller Road in Chapin, the sheriff said.

Once inside, the victim ran to her bedroom after Dominick threatened her with his gun, Lott said. She wrestled with him, knocked the gun out of his hand and 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. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts ruled Dominick’s death “justifiable homicide,” 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.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 9:16 AM with the headline "Local musician’s death during Lake Murray break-in ruled ‘justifiable homicide’."