Bernice Junior Smith

Provided

A man whom the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department reported died the afternoon of Aug. 9 after being stun-gunned and handcuffed by deputies has been identified.

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office announced Aug. 10 that Bernice Junior Smith, identified as a 32-year-old Black man from Aiken, “went unresponsive and was transported by Lexington County Emergency Medical Services to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.”

The coroner's office reported that he went unresponsive during a warrant service shortly after 1:30 p.m.

In revealing Smith’s identity, the coroner’s office did not specify a cause of death, noting that an autopsy is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 11, at MUSC in Charleston.

The state Law Enforcement Division, which a sheriff’s department release noted was called in to investigate alongside an internal review, continues to investigate, as does the coroner’s office.

The sheriff’s department reported that the man, now identified as Smith, was encountered by a deputy at a store in the Red Bank area of Lexington County and identified as having an outstanding warrant for shoplifting. The department’s release stated that the suspect ran into the woods after being told about the warrant and was eventually hit with a Taser and subdued.

“Deputies handcuffed the man and were walking him back to a patrol vehicle when he began showing signs of medical distress,” the release stated, attributing the information to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. “The deputies eventually removed the handcuffs and rendered aid to the man until paramedics arrived to transport him to the hospital.”

Capt. Adam Myrick, public information officer for the sheriff’s department, confirmed to the Chronicle that Smith was apprehended close by the store where the deputy first encountered him. 

The sheriff’s department’s release noted that three deputies were placed on leave following the man’s death, in accordance with department policy.

Myrick said it’s his understanding that these deputies were on scene during the department’s interaction with Smith leading up to his death.

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.