South Carolina Probation Agent Shoots a Mental Health Patient

A mental health patient was shot at dead because he became too loud and argumentative, according to Reuters.

The patient was brought to a mental health facility in South Carolina by a state agent on Monday at around 11: 30 in the morning. While the patient was being attended to by a psychiatrist at the mental health center in Chesterfeld, the agent with the state's Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services was seated right outside the office door. Staff members at the facility confirmed that they heard the patient become loud and argumentative. However, the department failed to elaborate on how the argument led to shooting.

As a means to follow procedure, the staff locked themselves and other patients behind office doors before several gunshots were heard. The patient was killed, said Tracy LaPointe, spokesperson for the Department of Mental Health. As of late, they have not yet disclosed the identity of the patient. The mental health institute confirmed that no other person was hurt in the incident.

The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is currently conducting an investigation into the incident and clinic staff and patients who were present have also been interviewed. The clinic will commence operations tomorrow and have dispatched additional staff to the clinic, including the Department's Director of Emergency Services. This is to ensure that staff and patients will be given additional support and assistance who may be in need of it.