Latest statements in Hammond case

The weekend has seen new statements in the case of the fatal shooting of a driver last month in the parking lot of a Seneca restaurant.  An attorney for Zachary Hammond claimed today that Lt. Mark Tiller was not in danger when he shot Hammond, and there was no evidence that Hammond was a threat to the general public.  Hammond family attorney Eric Bland accuses Tiller of “unnecessary and excessive deadly force.”  Two other statements were issued within a few minutes of each other on late Friday afternoon—one by Police Chief John Covington and the other by an attorney representing Tiller.  In response to FOIA requests, Covington’s statement was the first publicly-released identification of which officer fired the gun that killed the 19-year old Hammond.  It said Tiller has been employed by the Seneca police since 2010.  “During this time he has had no disciplinary personnel actions,” the statement read.  Covington says Tiller is listed as the victim of attempted murder in the report and the shooting of Hammond remains an active and ongoing South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation   Tiller attorney John Mussetto said, in the statement he released, “On the evening of July 26, 2015, Lieutenant Mark Tiller, a 10 year veteran in law enforcement and member of the K-9 division, responded to a drug deal that was to be made with an undercover Seneca Police narcotics agent in the back of a Hardee’s restaurant parking lot.  Upon arrival with blue lights activated, Lieutenant Tiller ordered Mr. Hammond to show Lieutentant Tiller his hands, which were being concealed.  Rather than abide by this order, Mr. Hammond rapidly reversed his vehicle towards Lieutenant Tiller’s patrol vehicle.  Mr. Hammond then rapidly accelerated in the direction of Lieutenant Tiller, forcing the lieutenant to push off of Mr. Hammond’s car to keep from being struck and run over.  In order to stop the continuing threat to himself and the general public, two shots were fired by Lieutenant Tiller in quick succession.  If not for Lieutenant Tiller quick reflexes and his ability to push off of the car, Lieutenant Tiller would have easily been run over by Mr. Hammond….”