(2010 Booking Photo from the Dillon County Detention Center)
By Betsy Finklea
Carl Stephen Elkins, the man who had a gun in Dillon Family Medicine on November 11, 2010, pled guilty to four charges on Monday.
Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel said that Elkins was charged with assault and battery first degree and three counts of pointing and presenting a firearm.
Daniel said that on November 11, 2010, Elkins went to the doctor’s office, tried to get a prescription, and the doctor wouldn’t give him one. Daniel said that Elkins pulled out a gun and pointed it to his head in the waiting area and said he wasn’t going to leave without a prescription. He said one doctor told him he would he would write a prescription if he put the gun down, which he did. He took a few steps to get the prescriptions, law enforcement rushed him and he was able to get the gun back. Elkins then pointed the gun at three officers and was shot by Deputy Chaddie Hayes. Deputy Hayes was cleared by SLED, who said there was no wrongdoing on the deputy’s part.
Elkins agreed that the facts were true when asked by Judge Michael Baxley.
Dillon City Investigator Jason Turner also made some remarks Judge Baxley said that he appreciated the risk that Turner and his colleagues take every day.
Elkins’ attorney said this was a very unfortunate situation that should not have happened. He said that Elkins was in constant pain and his intent was not to harm anyone but himself.
He said Elkins was a 62-year-old music teacher who moved to this area from Mississippi due to Hurricane Katrina. He said he gives private music lessons in the area. One of Elkins’ attorney’s asked for a probationary sentence.
Elkins said he was in extreme stress that day because of his health problems and he very much regrets what happened that day. Elkins said he felt that something had to be done that day and he didn’t know if he was going to die or not and responded because of that. Elkins said he was sorry that he put the police in a situation where they had to shoot him. After hearing all remarks, Judge Baxley said he wanted to take some time to think about it before handing down a sentence. At press time, the sentence was not available.
