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Bernard Bailey, 54
Orangeburg, South Carolina
April 02, 2011

Agencies: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division SLED | Eutawville Police Department South Carolina

Last updated: 7 months ago

Summary Help icon

The case is one of several police killings of black men across the country that have sparked protests and renewed a civil rights movement under the banner of "Black Lives Matter."

Bailey was killed when he visited town hall to speak with Combs about the traffic ticket.

Instead, prosecutors said, Combs tried to serve Bailey with an arrest warrant for obstructing justice during his daughter's stop, where Bailey was present.

Combs tried to prevent Bailey from driving away after their argument, firing three shots that struck Bailey in the chest, abdomen and head, prosecutors said.

The defense argued that Combs feared he would be run over and was in reasonable fear for his life.

Legal Action Help icon

April 2014 Claim settlement $400,000

Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs was charged with murder after fatally shooting Bernard Bailey, an unarmed black man. After two trials and two deadlocked juries, a plea deal reached with prosecutors sentenced Combs to home detention.

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