Coroner rules cause of death in fatal police shooting as suicide by cop - Charleston Post Courier

Shamir Terrel Palmer’s death has been ruled suicide “due to an intentional lethal confrontation with law enforcement,” according to an email from Dorchester County Coroner Chris Nisbet. Palmer, 24, of Haven Road suffered multiple gunshots, but it was one to the chest that fatally wounded him, Nisbet said. Palmer was shot no more than eight times, but some of his wounds could have been caused by fragments exiting the body, Nisbet said. As activists encouraged transparency from authorities, an incident report released Monday offered little insight into why deputies opened fire at the end of a high-speed pursuit. Chief Deputy Sam Richardson of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office said state agents recovered “what they believe is the suspect firearm” at the shooting scene on Schultz Lake Road west of Summerville. Richardson made the report about the chase public, but he offered no further details about what drew the deputies’ gunfire that killed Palmer, a felon with a history of assault, illegal gun possession and running from the police. Imploring law agencies to release video footage of the shooting, Tina Reddy of the National Action Network said the community would refuse to accept a “one-sided. Source: www.postandcourier.com