Sheriff Chuck Wright: Suspect shot Austin Aldridge, tried to flee scene in his patrol car

A fatal shooting of a deputy in Spartanburg began with a domestic dispute, followed by a confrontation among neighbors with guns drawn and aimed at one another, Chuck Wright said during a press conference Friday.

The press conference at NewSpring Church was the first time Chuck Wright has addressed the community since Tuesday night, shortly before deputy Austin Aldridge died. 

Wright said Duane Heard's spouse came to the Sheriff's Office on June 21 to report a domestic violence altercation, which occurred at their Chaffee Rd. home. 

Deputy Aldridge responded to this call to get Duane Heard's "side of the story," according to Wright. 

Video:Procession for fallen Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office deputy Austin Aldridge

"When Deputy Aldridge arrived, he exited his vehicle, walked to the front door, and knocked," Wright said.

"The suspect, Heard, opened up the front door and shot Deputy Aldridge. The suspect then stole the deputy officer's gun, his taser, and his key to his patrol car, and fled the scene before being confronted by another deputy."

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Aldridge eventually died at Spartanburg Medical Center later in the evening of June 21, 2022, at 9:26 p.m.

Heard, 63, is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a deadly crime in the shooting death of Aldridge, according to warrants served by the State Law Enforcement Division Wednesday.

Wright added that Heard and a neighbor had a confrontation with one another and "pointed their guns at one another." 

Wright thanked the neighbor for his role in stepping into a dangerous scenario.

Subsequently, Wright said deputies spotted the suspect's truck off Anderson Mill Rd., and, after initially pulling him over, pursued Heard when he drove off. 

Related news:What's next for Spartanburg man charged with murder in Austin Aldridge's shooting death

Schools and businesses in the area were notified and locked down. 

Heard took off into a wooded area and was located about 30 yards into the woods by the K9 unit and SWAT team officers, Wright said. 

Wright confirmed that Heard suffered from two gunshot wounds. Though he could not comment further on Heard's status due to SLED's involvement in the case, he did state that SWAT team members, "applied life-saving measures to the guy that just killed one of our deputies."

"I'm praying for the Heard family. Because I promise you, I did not want [Duane Heard] to make it to the hospital. We do it right. Our men and women had every opportunity to fix this problem down in the woods, and they did not do it, because they know that we're no better than them if we do, and that's not what Austin would have wanted, no way."

Deputy Austin Aldridge:Social media tributes pour in for fallen Spartanburg County deputy Austin Aldridge

Wright was asked about Heard's mental state at the time of the incident. 

"[Heard] is not gonna be able to get away with it by checking out on a mental disability. I can tell you that," 

Wright thanked the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Spartanburg City Police Department, Lyman Police Department, Duncan Police Department, Wellford Police Department, the U.S. Marshalls, Emergency Management, Spartanburg EMS, the Westview-Fairforest Fire Department, SLED, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Columbia Police Department. 

Wright reiterated "the restraint" his men showed and the contemporary issues he sees facing law enforcement.

"I don't know what happens in Boston and all those other places, but we do it right around here, and that's all I'm gonna be judged by, and that's all you're gonna judge my team by," Wright said. 

Chuck Wright explains why Austin Aldridge responded to the call alone

Wright said Aldridge was alone responding to the domestic call because his partner was dealing with the other half of the domestic call with Ms. Kimberly Heard. 

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 "[Deputy Aldridge] went over there to do his job, and he did it. He went over there just to get the guy's statement, find out what was going on."

Wright supplied a challenge to those who take issue with the operations of law enforcement and the Sheriff's Office.

"We're the only profession that I've ever been a part of that everybody thinks they know better than we do and you've never done the job," Wright said.

Wright held back tears multiple times as he talked about who Aldridge was as a person and deputy. Wright added that the outpour of community support has been "amazing" from a wide array of individuals, and implored people to fund the GoFundMe page for Deputy Aldridge's family.  A candlelight vigil is planned for tonight at 8 in front of the Sheriff's Office. 

"Austin Aldridge was a very good young man. My son knew him, he was a good young man, a good kid. This wasn't OK," Wright said. "Austin helped more people than you could shake a stick at. That picture of him giving that young kid a bear wasn't a photo op, that's just who he was." 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

Chalmers Rogland, a Wofford College graduate, covers public safety and breaking news for the Herald-Journal. Reach him via email at crogland@shj.com. Find him on Twitter @CRogland.