Brays Island security shoot-kill armed man www.privateofficer.com
Charleston SC Nov 27 2010 A family Thanksgiving gathering inside a Brays Island home turned into a deadly gun battle.
But Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner declined Friday to shed any new light on the death of James Piotrowski, 42, of Stuart, Fla., who allegedly was shot early Thursday by a Brays Island Plantation security guard. The guard was called to the home after reports of a violent argument between Piotrowski and his uncle, Richard Santee, according to authorities.
“It’s an ongoing investigation, and we won’t be releasing any new information until the first of next week,” said Tanner, who also declined to say whether charges might be filed against the security guard.
Attempts were unsuccessful on Friday to reach the Santees, Piotrowski’s family in Florida, Brays Island Plantation General Manager Kevin Rhatigan and Steve Russell, the community’s head of security.
Tanner declined to say whether investigators have determined what started the argument during which Santee allegedly retrieved from his closet a long-barreled revolver loaded with shotgun shells. People in the home told investigators they heard gunshots and that one of them called Brays Island Plantation security before calling 911, Tanner said Thursday.
Moments later, a security officer, whom Tanner would not name, walked up to the front door. He looked through a window and saw Piotrowski standing in the foyer pointing a gun at Santee, the sheriff said.
Piotrowski fired, hitting Santee, Tanner said. The security officer then opened the unlocked front door and shot Piotrowski, Tanner said. Piotrowski was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office. Santee was flown to Memorial Medical University in Savannah with potentially serious injuries, according to authorities.
Source: the Post and Courier
