Sheriff: Two dead, two others injured in murder-suicide

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Lexington County Sheriff's Department detectives are investigating an apparent murder-suicide that occurred Sunday afternoon.

Sheriff James R. Metts said detectives determined that Phillip Brierly, Jr., 23, used a six-inch knife to stab his uncle, Dennis Twiddy, 60, multiple times and then fatally shot himself in a home at 112 Lantern Hill Circle.

Metts said the two men lived in the home with other relatives.

According to the sheriff, Brierly went into Twiddy's bedroom just before 12:30 p.m. and stabbed the man multiple times in his back. Other relatives went towards the bedroom after hearing Twiddy yell that he had been stabbed. Brierly, who now was armed with a Rossi handgun, confronted the relatives as they attempted to disarm him in the living room, Metts said.

Brierly fired a gunshot that hit his father in his right shoulder as the man held onto the handgun's barrel, Metts said. Brierly also shot his brother-in-law in the middle finger on his right hand, according to the sheriff.

After shooting his father and brother-in-law, Brierly walked into the laundry room and shot himself in the head with the Rossi handgun, the sheriff said.

Lexington County Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced Phillip Brierly, Jr., and Dennis Twiddy dead at the scene of the incident, Metts said.

Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the other men to Lexington Medical Center, where the two men received medical treatment for their gunshot wounds.

The Lexington County Corner's Office said Twiddy's death was consistent with a homicide and Brierly's death was consistent with a suicide.

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