Florence, South Carolina

State officials announced today that no officers were injured in a shooting incident that resulted in the death of a suspect in an earlier Pee Dee murder case. 41-year-old Matthew Barry was killed during a standoff with the Florence Police Department and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office which were attempting to serve arrest warrants for his involvement in a recent homicide.

Officer-Involved Shooting, No Hurt in Line of Duty

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) stated on Friday that this incident, which occurred on Monday, marks the 27th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina this year. It was, notably, the first one involving officers from the Florence Police Department.

An Arrest Warrant Ends in Gunfire

Matthew Barry was wanted in connection with a homicide case that shook the town, following the shooting death of Idris Chance Ali Cooper on Third Loop Road early Sunday morning. Upon their arrival at Barry’s residence on Brittany Drive, the authorities found Barry armed and barricading himself inside his apartment.

The standoff culminated in an exchange of gunfire, resulting in Barry’s death. No officers were hurt in the altercation, a moment of relief amidst the tragic circumstances.

SLED Investigation Ongoing

Following the incident, the Florence Police and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office asked SLED to step in and conduct a detailed investigation. Evidence of the dangerous exchange could be witnessed in the multiple shattered windows at the building where the encounter unfolded.

A WMBF News Reporter who visited the scene engaged in conversations with local residents and people who claimed to know Barry personally. These windows into Barry’s life provide crucial context as the authorities unravel the events leading up to the deadly altercation.

SLED has currently made no additional details available and maintains that the case remains under investigation. For the latest updates, stay tuned.