- Police Brutality Watch

Sheriff defends raid, fatal shooting
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott moved Thursday to dispel what he said were “rumors” that a man killed during a shootout with deputies a day earlier did not know he was shooting at officers.

Despite that reassurance, the head of the Columbia Urban League on Thursday called for an independent citizens’ review panel to look into the incident.

Larry D. Bosket was shot in the head, shoulder and abdomen and died at the scene after a brief firefight in his Pine Valley home, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.

“Deputy sheriffs did not go in that house to kill him,” Lott said. “That was not our mission. The mission was to go into the house and seize the drugs.”

Bosket’s wife, April Bosket, and a 12-year-old child were inside the house when Bosket was shot. She said deputies rushed into the house without warning.

Columbia Urban League president J.T. McLawhorn said Thursday he, too, was concerned about the way deputies conducted the operation.

He called for an independent citizens’ review panel — separate from the Citizens Advisory Council that Lott maintains for the Sheriff’s Department — to examine the case.

“If someone breaks into your house,” McLawhorn said, “the natural reaction is to protect yourself.”

He questioned whether the deputies’ belief that Bosket had drugs in the home warranted “that kind of use of force.”

Lott said the Citizens Advisory Council, which the department has had had since 2001, is very independent. “We don’t control them. They have a separate meeting. They have their own chairman. We present the case and leave.”

The multicultural council, with representatives from the faith community, looks at incidents like Wednesday’s, as well as at policy, complaints, and disciplinary actions taken against officers, he said.

April Bosket, 39, was charged Thursday with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within a half-mile of a school, Lott said, because deputies found marijuana in common areas of the home.

Deputies forced the door in when knocks went unanswered, Lott said, and April Bosket tried to keep them from searching the house.

Narcotics agent Marcus Brown had surgery Thursday morning for a gunshot wound to his left upper arm, Lott said. He is expected to recover.

Brown and narcotics agent Jason Williams fired back at Bosket, Lott said, but it’s not clear who fired the fatal shot.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident, which is standard procedure in officer-related shootings. Its findings will be turned over to 5th Circuit Solicitor Barney Giese, who would determine whether to pursue criminal charges.

Deputies were at the house on Laredo Drive to execute a search warrant at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Six officers went inside while others stayed outside.

Deputies had obtained the warrant based on the arrests of two 17-year-old White Knoll High School students Lott said were recorded buying drugs from Bosket at a shopping center at Broad River and Rushmore roads March 3.

Investigators recovered 4 pounds of marijuana hidden in bedrooms, common areas and where April Bosket stored her clothing, Lott said. Officers also found scales and small plastic bags inside the house.

A sawed-off shotgun lay underneath the bed and a rifle stood in the corner of the bedroom where deputies confronted Larry Bosket, Lott said. Both weapons were loaded.

At a news conference Thursday, Lott held up Brown’s bulletproof vest. “Deputy Sheriff” was stitched across the center in yellow letters and Brown’s badge was secured to the shoulder.

Williams was wearing a black jacket with a Sheriff’s Department emblem on the left side and his badge around his neck, Lott said.

“They’re loud,” Lott said. “They’re making it clear who’s coming in that house.”

Bosket shot at Brown first with a .357-caliber revolver as Brown approached a back bedroom, Lott said. Brown then emptied his .40-caliber Glock pistol — all 16 shots — as he returned fire. Williams pulled Brown to cover and also fired once at Bosket with his Glock.

Residents say the Pine Valley incident is troubling but not indicative of the community.

James Whitmire, former president of the Pine Valley/Kingswood Neighborhood Association, has lived in Pine Valley for 22 years.

Residents of the working-class neighborhood were “caught off-guard” by Wednesday’s shooting, he said. “Our community is as safe as any in Richland County.”

Whitmire said many residents, including himself, deliberately take alternate routes to and from home — as a way of patrolling the neighborhood. [MORE]