Man shot in Lexington County by police identified, SLED investigating

SLED is investigating an early morning Tuesday officer-involved shooting in Lexington County that left one man wounded and two deputies on administrative leave.

Kimber Key, 59, who is from Florida, was shot at his brother’s home in the 100 block of White Falls Drive in Irmo, Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. Key was visiting his brother, John Dale Key, 64, at the time of the incident.

John Key called the Lexington County Communications Center shortly before the shooting to ask for help, McCarty said. Key told telecommunications operators his brother had a knife and was threatening to harm himself.

Two deputies responding to the scene found Kimber Key armed with a knife in the kitchen of the home. He was shot in his upper torso some time after. The circumstances of the shooting incident remain under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division, McCarty said. McCarty said he requested that SLED investigate the incident, a common practice when there is an officer-involved shooting.

Key was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and received additional medical care, McCarty said. His condition has not yet been released.

The two deputies, who were not injured in the incident, were placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of SLED’s investigation of the incident.

McCarty said he will not identify the deputies who were involved in the incident because the investigation is active and ongoing. One of the deputies is a 52-year-old road patrol supervisor who has worked for the sheriff’s department for 25 years. The other is a 46-year-old field training officer who has worked for the department for six years, McCarty said.

All of the parties who were involved in the shooting incident are white, McCarty said.

This is the 15th officer-involved shooting that SLED has investigated this year.

Mindy Lucas contributed to this report.

This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 7:42 AM with the headline "Man shot in Lexington County by police identified, SLED investigating."