Fairfield Co. coroner identifies shooting victim after deputies called to motel

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill has identified the person who died after a shooting in Winnsboro, say officials.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, September 10, Fairfield County EMS was called to the America’s Best Value Inn in Winnsboro for a shooting victim.

Upon EMS arrival, they found an individual with gunshot wounds in the lower extremities with heavy bleeding, says the coroner’s office.

EMS took the individual to Prisma Health Richland Memorial when he was taken into surgery.

According to Coroner Hill, 27-year-old Jonquarius Gibson, of Winnsboro, died from the injuries that he sustained during the shooting.

An autopsy will be scheduled with Newberry Pathology.

Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a shooting that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on Thursday at America’s Best Inn, across from the MUSC Emergency Room in Winnsboro.

The investigation determined that three individuals left the emergency room and walked across the roadway toward the motel.

And one of those individuals were armed with a handgun, according to the sheriff’s office.

As they approached the motel, the armed individual saw a man he knew standing outside one of the motel rooms.

Investigators say the man at the motel was unarmed.

Upon seeing him, the armed individual ran toward the unarmed man, and a physical confrontation immediately followed, as stated by investigators.

According to an eyewitness who was present during the incident, the armed individual attempted to hit the man in the head with the handgun during the confrontation.

Surveillance video obtained by investigators confirms that the armed individual initiated the confrontation and shows the two men struggling while a second individual begins running toward them.

During the struggle, the man being attacked was able to gain control of the handgun and fired, striking the armed individual in the shoulder.

The second individual continued advancing toward the man, who then fired again, striking that individual in the leg, according to reports.

Deputies and EMS personnel responded and provided aid to both injured individuals.

Both were taken to Prisma Health Richland Hospital for treatment.

The individual who sustained the gunshot wound to the leg later died from his injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Lt. Barry Gilbert at 803-635-4141.