Family of teenager killed in Berkeley County deputy-involved shooting speaks out

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) — Tyren Kinloch’s family is speaking out after their 17-year-old son was killed in a deputy-involved shooting in Berkeley County. They were joined by dozens of community members at the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon demanding answers for his death.

“Tyren was my baby boy and I just want answers I just want to know what happened. Thats all I want to know,” said Kylie Kinloch, Tyren’s mother.

Tyren Kinloch died after he was shot by a Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office deputy in the Wando area. His family is asking why things escalated to that point.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office says, deputies conducted a traffic stop on the car he was in. They say Tyren jumped out of the car and was running away from deputies when he allegedly pointed a weapon at them, and a deputy returned fire. At the press conference National Racial Justice Network asked for Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis to release the body cam footage, wanting to confirm this narrative,

“We believe this was a case where the use of force, the use of deadly force was unnecessary and excessive. We’re not simply requesting transparency, we’re demanding transparency from the Berkeley County sheriff’s office and SLED,” said Attorney John Mobley.

Community leaders spoke out against what they say is a widespread issue of police force against black men, saying its only getting worse

“I’m sick and tired of going to teenagers’ funerals because of cops killing them. Mothers crying on my shoulders. I’m sick and tired of it. They think we’re less than a human. They shoot first and ask questions later. History has shown that. Not only in Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester County but all over America black men are getting shot down every day by white cops,” said Elder James Johnson, the CEO of the National Racial Justice Network

No litigation has been filed yet as the investigation is still ongoing, but lawyers say there may be in the future: as Tyren’s family continues grieving the young life that was lost.

“Tyren was a typical child. Smart, funny, caring and I feel like we’ve been robbed of all that. If I could have anything back, let me tell you no amount of money can bring me joy. I want my nephew,” said Shakeris Kinloch-Gardner, Tyren’s aunt.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s office is unable to comment at this time as it an active SLED investigation.