Nicholas Elias Fernandez Obituary, – The man accused of shoplifting and threatening a store manager before being shot and killed by an Easley Police officer has been identified as Nicholas Elias Fernandez, 26, of Greer. Fernandez was confirmed deceased by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office after being struck multiple times. EMS was called to the scene and pronounced him dead.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting and stated that Fernandez was carrying an ax. The Easley Police Department responded to a call about a person caught stealing and threatening a store manager. The man left the store before officers arrived and was later found at home, where he threatened to pour gasoline on a person’s vehicle.
Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the man charged at the officer with an ax, prompting the officer to fire his weapon. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave. This incident marks the 24th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024 and the second involving the Easley Police Department this year.
