SC Officer shot 4 times in the back and killed - investigation continuing

[outfieldjack]

Letter to the Editor.....

4th one down.... short but to the point.....

The State

• Spokesman serves as judge and jury

This letter is regarding your Aug. 16 article “Alleged shooter claims self-defense,†in which Joseph Pellicci, spokesperson for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, stated, “At this point, we feel that Mr. Rye murdered Mr. Odam without any provocation.â€

At this point, can taxpayers in Richland County expect there will be no need for a judge or jury in this case as Mr. Pellicci declared in the media Mr. Rye’s guilt?

LOUISE HAYNE

Eastover

 

[Shootcraps]

Great letter. More details from The State:

• Bail set for man accused in deputy’s death

"A judge on Wednesday set bail at $500,000 for a 58-year-old man accused of killing an off-duty Beaufort County deputy, but the court rejected efforts to keep the accused man in jail until his murder trial, a prosecutor said.

Thomas G. Rye has said he shot Robert Thomas Odam, 22, in self-defense. Prosecutors say it was murder.

Odam, a brother-in-law and a friend were taking target practice Aug. 14 on Rye’s Eastover property and adjoining land, prosecutor John Meadors said. Odam was visiting his mother-in-law.

They shot and killed one of Rye’s cats, which Rye found when he arrived to feed them, Meadors said. Rye and Odam had a confrontation, and Odam was shot four times, the prosecutor said."

So the group was three people. The BIL and friend have probably been advised by the sheriff department not to talk to anyone.

And the group DID shoot and kill the cats. Bad boys doing bad things.

IMHO, if you're doing illegal stuff on someone elses property (like trespassing and killing their animals) and get hurt you ain't got no right to cry about it.

 

[sendec]

So the penalty for trespassing and caticide is death?

Y'all complain that Rye is being tried in the press, well, what are you doing in this thread?

We have juries for a reason, so far we have'nt tried trial by forum.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

IMHO, if you're doing illegal stuff on someone elses property (like trespassing and killing their animals) and get hurt you ain't got no right to cry about it.

In some states, shooting someone's animal just for the hell of it, is a felony. If I found an armed group on my land with no regard for the law, I would immediately feel threatened, not to mention really pissed off.

If I'm on the jury, (based on what I know so far), it's not guilty to murder. It really sounds like Odam brought this on himself.

 

[Daniel T]

So the penalty for trespassing and caticide is death?

Nope. But we don't know the circumstances of the confrontation. The only people who do are Rye and Odam's two buddies, none of whom are disinterested third party witnesses.

If Odam, say, said something like "You're going to end up like your cat if you don't %^#@ off!" while holding an AK, well that's Aggravated Assault in Texas, and can be defended against with deadly force.

Now if Odam said "@#$% off old man." and turned around, then was blasted by Rye, well that's murder, cut and dry.

What I don't see is how Rye can possibly get a fair trial with the Sherriff's dept. claiming him guilty of murder, aided by the press.

 

[brookstexas]

To answer the question

"So the penalty for trespassing and caticide is death?"

Absolutely! If it was my pet I might have tortured them first though....

This guy is screwed either way, these guys will lie & be coached so time to set up a defense fund.

They were trespassing, admit to killing a pet etc., who's fault is it that he is dead? That's right up there with being electrocuted when the radio falls in the tub from the edge. Shouldn't be suprised...
CT

 

[Shootcraps]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So the penalty for trespassing and caticide is death?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daniel T, ExtremeDooty and brookstexas all answered the question very well.

We aren't trying Odam. We are working through the possible scenarios based on the data we have. It appears to some that the sheriff's department is trying to railroad Rye into prison for murder even if he's innocent.

I think we all agree on two things:

1. If Rye did shoot Odam just for being on his land, that's wrong and he should be punished.

2. If Odam did threaten Rye with his assault rifle and it was a case of self defense then Rye should go free.

Because Odam was off duty and out of uniform, the fact that he was a deputy sheriff should have no bearing on this case. The sheriff's department doesn't seem to agree with this and are proclaiming that Rye murdered him in cold blood.

Maybe they are trying to save face because their reputation has been tarnished by Odam's behavior. He was already breaking the law by trespassing on Rye's land. Did he compound that by: A. shooting his cat (or being an accessory to the death of the cat) and by B. threatening Rye with his assault rifle? The only people who know this besides Rye are the others in "the group" that were involved in the illegal activity. They've become very quiet.

So sendec, stay tuned and help us sort out the pieces of this puzzle. M'kay?

 

[Shootcraps]

IMHO, if you're doing illegal stuff on someone elses property (like trespassing and killing their animals) and get hurt you ain't got no right to cry about it.

I was mostly making reference to the fact that if a bad guy gets hurt while on your property (even in the commission of a crime) you, the homeowner are liable for his damages. I think this is completely asinine. Some states have an exception for this, but I don't think it's very many of them.

 

[hammer4nc]

Some hypotheticals, you're on the grand jury... Suppose, after finding the shot dead cat, Rye encounters armed intruders on his property. Q: Would he be justified in saying "drop your weapons, I've just called 911 and police are on the way". As he has found evidence of fresh crimes (misdemeanor or felony??) committed with guns, he has armed himself and has the drop on the intruders.

Suppose also, that Odam's cop training (welcome comments on this) kicks in, specifically; an officer WILL NOT be disarmed, no way, no how, under no circumstances, even if someone gets the drop on you. He does not drop the weapon, but maked a movement that could be construed as turning to meet the threat, running for cover, etc. Gets shot. Using the standard routinely given in police shootings; i.e., "armed duspect did not comply with order to drop the weapon, and I feared for my life". Q: Wouldn't Rye be justifed in self defense?

Odam calls 911 again to report the shooting. Doesn't flee.

If I were in Rye's shoes right now, I'd be giving my version to the press right now, just to counter the demonization issued by the police spokesman ("murder without provocation") the day after the event.

 

[Shootcraps]

If Rye did get the drop on the group, it would depend on the actions they made, which we don't know yet. If they run away, you cannot shoot them because in running away they are no longer a threat.

Any movement made that Rye interpreted as a threat, which he'll have to explain in court. The jury will have to decide if any reasonable person would have considered their actions a threat. I think that will make it a valid self defense.

The forensic team will help when they describe their version of what happened based on where people were standing, what they did and how the bullets hit Odam.

IMHO, Odam's cop training should have kicked in before he decided to break the law and trespass on Rye's property with an assault rifle. He should have kept his dumb @ss in his own back yard.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

Y'all complain that Rye is being tried in the press, well, what are you doing in this thread?

What I'm doing is expressing my opinion which is allowed under the First Amendment and the rules of this forum. I think OJ got away with murder, Scott Peterson killed his wife and Kobe Bryant is guilty of having sex with someone other than his wife, but not guilty of rape. Ultimately what I say here doesn't affect any of these people even though I could be wrong about everything. But I still get to have an opinion and this is one place that I get to express those opinions.

Odam, a brother-in-law and a friend were taking target practice Aug. 14 on Rye’s Eastover property and adjoining land, prosecutor John Meadors said. Odam was visiting his mother-in-law.

They shot and killed one of Rye’s cats, which Rye found when he arrived to feed them, Meadors said. Rye and Odam had a confrontation, and Odam was shot four times, the prosecutor said."

Just going by what the prosecutor has been quoted as saying supports self defense a lot more than murder. Odam was a 22 yr-old Deputy and should have known, and likely did know, that he was breaking at least 2 laws, and when confronted by the owner, instead of apologizing, decides to have an argument with the owner. This just sounds like a wise ass punk that thought he was above the law because he was a Deputy. The fact the BIL and friend were not shot probably means they were not threatening Rye and Rye stopped shooting when the threat was stopped.

If I was on someone else's land target shooting without permission, (which I wouldn't do in the first place), I certainly wouldn't start shooting his animals. And if confronted by the owner, especially an armed owner, I would apologize profusely, clean up and leave immediately. None of Odam's actions that day are reasonable, unless he felt he was above the law. All of Rye's actions were reasonable up to the point of shooting Odam. He was on his own land and he did call the police for help. And he was certainly within his rights to confront these morons and tell them to get the H3ll off his property.

I also wonder if drugs or alcohol was involved.

These opinions are subject to change without any apparent reason needed.

 

[db4]

Three weeks or so... any new developments in this case?

 

[nico]

I read all four pages of this thread without realizing the dates of the posts, and now I'm wondering the same thing.
Guilty or not, it seems like the shooter is gonna get railroaded.

 

[Sportcat]

Haven't seen anything on the news websites I refered to earlier. I check everyday and will post if I see anything.

 

[Grey54956]

A very interesting, albeit tragic, event.

Odam, the BIL, and friend were all trespassing, and they were armed, and they were killing Rye's pets. Rye shot Odam after a confrontation.

Some people are saying it was justifiable, others say no. I guess the way I interpret this, given the facts of the case as I know them is this: Shooting Odam in the back may have been justifiable.

Odam, BIL, and friend were already outwardly hostile to Rye and his property, as demonstrated by killing his pets, damaging his property, alledgedly trying to break into his barn, and the confrontaion between Odam and Rye. Odam was armed with a rifle, giving him the ability to strike at considerable range. If Odam refused to be disarmed, the shoot would have been justifiable as letting Odam run would not guarantee Rye's safety. Odam and his group could have moved to a better position and attacked Rye from a distance.

This is not saying that anyone with a rifle can be shot at will if caught trespassing, it depends on the nature of the confrontation between the two men. Perhaps after the confrontation Odam turned to flee because he new his career would be ruined if caught and prosecuted. Rye could have misinterpreted this as a hostile act, assuming Odam harbored further maliscious intent.

Who knows. However, I don't think the case is cut and dry, but our system of justice is based upon proving guilt beyond a resonable doubt. It seems to me that Odam's activities at and around the time of the shooting make proving Rye's guilt beyond reasonable doubt very difficult.

 

[Shootcraps]

It seems to me that Odam's activities at and around the time of the shooting make proving Rye's guilt beyond reasonable doubt very difficult.

Agreed. I would love to know exactly what Odam's party was doing and how he got shot. But the BIL and friend have a bad case of laryngitis and aren't talking right now. Maybe because they were so much in the wrong, that anything they say will validate Rye's self-defense claim. That would be cool.

 

[crewchief]

Although long please read

I would love to hear some updated info as this is the first time I have seen this thread and read all four pages anticipating more info. I for one don't buy into the "target shooting" excuse for a second. It more sounds like Odam had a beef with the old man and being a cocky 22yr. old newly badge toting deputy decided to grab his AK-47 and some accomplices and go teach the old man a lesson. They knocked off one of his cats and then decide to go vandalize his shed and maybe his house next. Rye hears the commotion and calls 911, and Odam and his "buddies" don't think he is home at first, but then Rye steps outside to investigate what is going on, on HIS property. At this point the two parties come face to face, Rye shouts, "What the #$%# are you doing!?" Startled at first but not about to back down because he is the law Odam responds with, "What the @#$% does it look like, I shot your stupid cat whacked your shed and I am about to whack your a$$ next!" All the while his AK-47 gripped tightly by his side tapping his leg. Quickly doing the math of 3 assault weapon toting youngsters who have just killed a family pet and tried to damage property thereafter Rye fires a single shot. The shot grazes Odam's neck causing him to drop is AK all the while the two other persons immediately back down their threating stance as they realize Rye means business, but not cocky Odam. Being that Odam is right handed and the rifle was carried down by his right leg Odam immediately turns 90 degrees to the right to pick up his dropped weapon. Seeing that the threat is not neutralized Rye fires three more shots in succession, the first shot hitting Odam in his left side piercing through his left arm and on into his ribcage ultimately plowing through Odam's heart. This spins Odam more in his clockwise direction thereby exposing his back just in time for the 3rd and 4th shot to enter his back. Odam falls to the ground and Rye immediately ceases fire due to the threat being neutralized and the other two accomplices run away unscathed. Once the scene is now quite Rye retreats back into his home and calls 911 for a second time where he informs the dispatcher that he had to make the ultimate judgment call and save his life in return for another. The fact that the other life (Odam) is a police officer is irrelevant to his judgment call, but will ultimately probably play a role in his demise as a wrongfully accused "cop killer".


If you have made it this far thank you for reading this entire post. The previous scenario is one that I have created as nothing more than a "possible" time-line given the facts thus far and is not to be taken as truth in anyway. I also don't believe that all 22yr olds are cocky and arrogant, but positions of authority have their effects on the youthful mind. I look forward to updates and hope that honest justice is served and not a hasty lynching.

 

[Shootcraps]

Wow! Nice post crewchief.

 

[LawDog]

Oh, goody, let's play the 'scenario' game.

Okay, since the shooter in this case did not live on the property, rather he lived in Columbia, that's going to kind of leave out the 'running out of the house' part.

We know that the alleged attempted break-in of the building and the shot cat happened earlier that Saturday, because the shooter called 911 to report both crimes.

We know that the victim was visiting his mother-in-law, and that his brother-in-law was with him during the shooting.

We know that of the bullets in the victim, two were in the back, one was higher in the arm and one grazed the neck.

So. The scenario.

Shooter visits the land he owns out in the country Saturday morning. He finds the dead cat, and the alleged attempted break-in of a storage building on the property. He calls 911 to report this.

Later, the brother-in-law of the victim takes the victim out for target shooting. Either having had previous permission from the shooter, or out of a bad habit, the brother-in-law takes the victim onto property not belonging to the brother-in-law, where they commence to target shoot.

Shooter hears the noise, is already frustrated and angry because of the alleged attempted break-in and the death of his cat, rushes to confront the brother-in-law and the victim.

Sometime during the confrontation, the victim realizes that he has, in fact, been a party to a criminal trespass, understands that he is now in Deep Dutch as soon as the shooter reports this incident to the Sheriff, and turns to leave -- probably cussing the brother-in-law as he does so.

For whatever reason, the shooter then fires four rounds at the victim. The first hitting the victim in the back.

Because the victim is now falling, plus the muzzle rise of the shooters' weapon from recoil, the second shot hits the victim higher in the back.

The victim is turning as he falls, and this added to the fall of his body coupled with the rise of the muzzle, places the third shot in his arm.

The turning, falling body and muzzle climb now causes the fourth and final shot to graze the neck of the victim.

LawDog

 

[Shootcraps]

I can see two potential holes in your scenario LawDog.

1. Odam turns to leave and Rye just starts shooting at him? I can't see Rye just cutting loose on him cause if he's leaving he's no longer a threat. (Meaning that I hope he didn't do that. That would be a bad thing.)

2. Muzzle climb. Rye used an M1 Carbine. Not much muzzle climb with that gun.

 

[crewchief]

Thank you for the compliment Shootcraps, and I am sorry if the flow and sentence structure was a little off, but I was thinking up this scene as I was typing. Well I did have some ideas of what went down IMHO by page two of this thread. Anyhow it will be interesting to see how this whole trial goes down. Wouldn't that be crazy if my scene is the way it actually went down. Just think you can say, "Man I was there on THR when this guy named crewchief solved the mystery weeks before the trial, and with only a couple of facts."


Speaking of which is their anyway to get the name of Rye's attorney or a contact for Rye himself. Maybe some of us who believe innocent until proved guilty in a court of law and back Rye could show our support through letters and heck we could even go as far as to set-up a legal defense fund him. After all this boils down to the story of a justifiable (or not depending on new facts we don't have) self defense shooting, cop or no cop.

Also we need an address for this Pellicci character so I can voice to him how it is not his job, nor is it right to condemn a man before a case is presented to a jury, and then it is there job to say if he is guilty or not. I think Rye if found innocent should nail this guy on public slander and defamation of character for dragging his name through the mud all over the media. I can't even imagine how difficult it is to make the decision to use lethal and I hope I never have to, but even if it was the right choice I imagine you still question it for the rest of your life. That is burden enough without some a-hole accusing you of being a "cold blooded cop killer".

 

[Firethorn]

Given that my M1 is still coming, I don't know how much muzzle climb happens.

I would like to ask though, about the presumed target shooting beforehand. "On the property to take target practice" Odd wording. However, they keep talking about how Odam's weapon was never fired.

Also, shot four times, two in the back is different from shot four times in the back.

I too feel that just because you're an officer doesn't mean that you're exempt from the rules. If you remove all references to Odam being an officer it'd be a really difficult call.

Shooting an unarmed, or armed with a short range weapon (ie a knife or club) in the back is non-kosher. Shooting a man with a rifle or handgun in the back is a more difficult call, as the potential for violence is possible with a simple turn.

I think in this case, the right decision is being made. Take it to court, and let them figure it out.

 

[confinedbythecurtain]

My family owns land out in Arkansas, hunters wander on our land every season. We sure as hell dont shoot them for being there! (especially in the back). Its sad to hear that another officer has been killed, but I will reserve judgement until all facts are in.

 

[LawDog]

Maybe some of us who believe innocent until proved guilty in a court of law and back Rye

Innocent until proven guilty --unless -- the dead victim is a cop, in which case the cop is automatically guilty of being cocky, overbearing, thuggish, and a -- what was that quote? "Wise ass punk."

So. Did anyone here know the dead man? Speak up.

Anyone here ever have contact with the dead man? Anyone here serve in the Air Force during the four-year tour from which he was honourably discharged? Go to high school with him? Anyone know the family of the deceased?

No. You just assume he is guilty. Guilty until someone proves he was innocent of the slander and libel.

I'm really starting to get tired of THR.

LawDog

 

[Shootcraps]

Innocent until proven guilty --unless -- the dead victim is a cop, in which case the cop is automatically guilty of being cocky, overbearing, thuggish, and a -- what was that quote? "Wise ass punk."

We know the dead man is guilty of trespassing. That's been established. To make it worse, he's trespassing with two buddies AND they're all armed for bear. To make it even worse, one of them shoots and kills Rye's cat. To make it even worser, he's a deputy sheriff WHO SHOULD KNOW that he shouldn't be trespassing on private property with guns and killing someone else's cats. These actions COULD be things that a "cocky, overbearing, thuggish wise ass punk" would do.

Nobody is saying this is what Odam was like. But if he was, that would explain how a situation could escalate and end with his death. We won't know until we hear more details of what happened when Rye encountered Odam's group. He wouldn't be the first cocky young deputy to let his position go to his head.

If you want to yell at someone for pre-judging the situation, the Sheriff's department is a good place to start. Their spokesman (Pellici) has already labeled Rye as a "cold blooded murderer" of their deputy, without providing any explanation. The fact that he's a deputy is really irrelevent, since he was off-duty and not on a call. If they really want to bring in into the conversation, they should be explaining why they deputy was BREAKING THE LAW HE WAS SWORN TO UPHOLD while he was trespassing on Rye's property with an assault rifle. But they're being kinda quiet about that.