Officials say that an Upstate shooting earlier this month was justified. The shooting in Pickens County that left an Upstate man dead has been ruled a justifiable homicide, according to the Pickens County sheriff's office. The incident happened on December 19th at a residence in Liberty. Deputies responded to a reported disturbance and when they arrived they found a man dead in the yard from a gunshot wound. The man was later identified as 31 year old Steven Wayne Kneece of Piedmont. Police say Kneece and several other men who were armed went to the home, and confronted a man who they claimed owed them money.
According to detectives, the man who they had approached tried to leave in a vehicle but was shot by one of the other men who arrived with Kneece.
Kneece was shot during the altercation. A review of the evidence by the Sheriff's Office and 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office determined the homicide to be justifiable, that could change in the coming future as the shooting investigation is still ongoing. As a result of the incident, a three men were arrested. Police say a fourth man, Rickey Wayne Green Jr., remains wanted in connection with the incident.
