The police reports on the fatal shooting of an Orangeburg County deputy have been released, showing the deadly confrontation between an habitual offender and the officer had been brewing long before both lost their lives.

Made available Wednesday, several reports indicate a deadly situation had been in the making for hours before 46-year-old Cpl. William Howell was gunned down while providing protection to a Holly Hill woman.

In spite of being listed as the subject, or alleged perpetrator, on numerous incident reports in the last seven months, 21-year-old Derrick Buras remained out of jail on bond.

It wasn’t the first confrontation between Tiffany Jones and Buras. In the past seven months, Derrick Buras had been arrested or accused of at least five domestic-related charges. Each time, he was either released or no charges were pressed.

“To say why the man wasn’t picked up, I don’t know,” Sheriff Larry Williams said. “When a person has been entered into the system, it’s difficult to determine who’s dangerous and who isn’t.”

At the time of the May 3 shooting, Buras was out on a $25,000 bond for a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill.

But according to the initial report that documented events beginning on Friday, a Deputy M. Pesesko was dispatched to a Rowesville residence in reference to a domestic altercation that had occurred at 423 Acola Lane in Holly Hill, the location where Howell and Buras would later lose their lives.

Giving the name of Tiffany Jones in the report, Jones told the officer that her husband, Buras, had at about 2 p.m. that day taken her car keys, grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm. Jones said Buras would not allow her to leave their shared home in Holly Hill or use the telephone.

Buras, according to his wife, then threatened to beat her with a baseball bat.

About 2-1/2 half hours later, Buras again assaulted Jones, this time grabbing the 108-pound woman’s arms and twisting them behind her back, the reports state.

At about 9 p.m., Jones “was able to sneak out of her home while the subject was away,” according to the reports. At the Rowesville location, “the subject called repeatedly, threatening to destroy her (Jones’) belongings if she did not return home,” the reports continue.

At that point, Jones contacted the sheriff’s office, “stating she wanted a deputy to escort her to her home to retrieve her belongings. This deputy contacted Deputy Howell, who stated he would meet the victim at the intersection of Hwy. 301 and Hwy. 176 and escort her to her home,” the reports state.

It would be Cpl. William Howell’s last call.

The next report released was written by a Lt. Jenkins. It gives a very brief synopsis as to the events chronicled later by Jones herself in speaking with media.

Jones said that as she placed her possessions in a car, Howell stood on the front porch with his back slightly turned away from the residence.

“The complainant advised the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office dispatch that while the victim (Howell) was assisting her on an escort to the property, the subject exited the residence and shot the victim,” Jenkins’ report states. “The complainant advised the subject attempted to (stop) her by jumping on her vehicle but somehow fell off when she sped from the yard.”

At that point, surrounding agencies were notified that an officer was down. The Eutawville and Holly Hill police departments were the first to respond to that call.

Howell was found in front of the residence at the foot of a wooden porch. The 16-year-law enforcement veteran was dead.

Along with the officer, Buras was also killed during the confrontation.

“The subject was located in a nearby ditch on Acola Lane with injuries from being struck by Tiffany Jones’ vehicle when she sped from the scene,” Jenkins’ report states. “The subject also had already expired near the scene. SLED responded to investigate.”

A SLED spokesperson said the investigation is still ongoing.

In spite of the fatal shooting and a potentially dangerous domestic situation this past week, Williams said his office remains committed to citizens.

“We’re not going to back down from protecting the victim or the community,” Williams said. “That’s our primary concern. We’re going to police; that’s our job.”

n T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker @timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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