By Martha Rose Brown
The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.
CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. — A 34-year-old man was shot and killed Monday night after he triggered a boobytrap set at a home near St. Matthews, Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers said Wednesday morning.
Jordan Dove, of Lugoff, went to check on his family’s vacant home on Chickadee Circle just after 7:30 p.m. Monday. His daughter went with him.
When Dove approached the door, his daughter heard “sounds similar to fireworks” and realized her father had been shot, an incident report states.
Calhoun County EMS transported Dove to a hospital where he died.
Dove’s nephew, Alfonzo Brown, was known to reside at the vacant home from time to time and will be facing charges, Summers said.
Brown was taken into custody in Maryland where he faces three attempted murder charges, Summers said.
An extradition for Brown hasn’t been scheduled while he faces his charges in Maryland.
“This is an isolated incident and there is currently no threat to the public,” Summers said.
Summers believes law enforcement was the target. He alleges Brown thought law enforcement officials would look for him at the Calhoun County home and set up a boobytrap for them.
Summers said the boobytrap was rigged so that when someone opened the backdoor, it triggered a shotgun aimed at the door.
Deputies weren’t aware of the boobytrap when they responded to the shooting, Summers said. They considered two scenarios: either the shooter was inside the home, or the gun fired due to a boobytrap.
Deputies first called out for the any potential shooter to leave the home, treating the situation as though there may be a barricaded person inside, the report states.
Then deputies entered the home, discovered the boobytrap and no one inside. They dismantled it.
“This was a very dangerous situation that appeared to be targeted towards law enforcement. It is yet another example of the dangers faced by law enforcement every day,” Summers said.
He noted that he’d never encountered a case like this during his decades-long law enforcement career.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling 803-874-2741.
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