On Dec. 4, early in the morning, Bruce McLaughlin Jr. broke out of the Pickens County Jail. Within minutes of his escape, he allegedly broke into the home of a South Carolina woman who was prepared.
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According to Yahoo News, McLaughlin was still wearing an orange jumpsuit when he grabbed a knife sharpener from her kitchen and headed toward her bedroom. However, the woman heard the intruder and grabbed her handgun. She then fired, killing McLaughlin with at least one shot to the head, according to Pickens County Coroner Kandy Kelley.
“This was a big guy,” said Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark. “If she hadn’t had a weapon there’s no telling what would have happened. I gave her a big hug. I told her how proud I was of her.”
According to Clark, the unidentified South Carolina woman had gone through the South Carolina concealed carry class. As such, she had received firearm safety training, as well as range time. The Palmetto State requires an eight-hour class, which includes a shooting test, to carry concealed.
According to Sheriff Clark, this is a “shining example” of why people should own and learn how to use guns.
“She came out on the good on this end and the other guy, the bad guy, didn’t,” Clark said.
Clark also believes that the shooting is justified. However, county prosecutors will make the final determination regarding charges after the investigation.
Inmate South Carolina Woman Killed
To escape, McLaughlin, along with Timothy Dill, overpowered two guards. McLaughlin was awaiting trial for first-degree burglary and grand larceny charges. Reports show that McLaughlin has been in and out of the Pickens County Jail numerous times for various charges, including weapons possession and assaulting a police officer.
After breaking out, the pair immediately split up. However, deputies quickly found Dill and took him back into custody. In fact, Dill was being arrested right around the time McLaughlin was being shot. Dill was in jail for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. However, now he also faces two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault and battery, malicious damage to a jail and strong-armed robbery.
