SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – The suspect in the Spartanburg County deadly deputy-involved shooting has died according to the coroner.
7NEWS previously reported that 63-year-old Duane Heard was charged with fatally shooting Deputy Austin Derek Aldridge when he responded to a domestic call at a home in the 4000 block of Chafee Road.
Heard was facing a murder charge in Deputy Aldridge’s death, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The office of 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette told 7NEWS the murder case will be dismissed due to Heard’s death.
He was also charged with armed robbery, domestic violence, two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm and failure to stop for blue lights.
The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office said Heard was shot before his capture and had been receiving treatment for his injuries since June.
“Mr. Heard had suffered from injuries while the deputies were trying to subdue him,” explained Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger. “Because of those injuries, he just could not get better from those.”
Initially, Heard was being treated at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, according to the coroner.
He was later discharged and transported to the York County Detention Facility on October 20.
The coroner said while in custody, Heard’s health deteriorated and he was transferred to a hospice facility in Rock Hill.
He was pronounced dead Friday at 6:11 p.m. An autopsy was performed over the weekend. Results are pending.
Heard’s death is being investigated by the Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office.
“Nobody’s jumping up and down for joy,” said Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright. “The only good thing is we don’t have to go through the trial now.”
SLED said its investigation into the deputy-involved shooting remains active and ongoing.
