Colleagues remember county employee who died while assisting officers during standoff

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CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -

Friends and co-worked are remembering a Charleston County employee and volunteer rescue squad member who died overnight while assisting law enforcement at Monday night's fatal shooting at a West Ashley apartment complex.

According to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, county employee Larry Britton, 58,  died of an apparent cardiac event. Britton, who was also a member of the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad for 20 years, was providing support to officers when the cardiac event occurred.

Britton died later in the evening, away from the scene of the shooting, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten says.

Britton is survived by his wife, Marsha, his son, Larry, Jr., and two grandchildren, according to Charleston County spokesman Shawn Smetana. 

Britton was hired full time by Charleston County in February, 2006, in support of public safety communications and had worked as a contractor for the county for several years prior to that. He also volunteered with the Charleston County Rescue Squad for more than 20 years. He worked with the Disaster Medical Assistance Team under HHS for more than 10 years and was a state constable for more than 10 years, Smetana said.

Britton was the Isle of Palms Fire Chief during and after Hurricane Hugo. 

“People like Larry Britton are a shining example of what it means to be a good person and a great employee,” Charleston County Administrator Kurt Taylor said. “He lived his life to service the public in so many different ways and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

“Mr. Britton was an extremely dedicated employee, always giving 110% to support public safety communications,” co-worker and Director of Communications Bill Tunick said. “At any time day or night, Larry would support any major public safety incident in the County.”

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the Gardens of Ashley River apartment complex on Carriage Lane around 7:30 p.m. after a report of shots fired.

Investigators say deputies were attempting to make contact with a disorderly subject who was causing a disturbance when the subject fired multiple gunshots through an apartment door, hitting two deputies.

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon confirmed one deputy died as a result of the shooting and another remains in the hospital with serious injuries.

Agencies were involved in a nine hour standoff with subject, which ended just before 4:30 a.m.