Today, we remember Pickens County Sheriff’s Office (SC) Deputy Sheriff Russell Snow Masters and North Myrtle Beach Police Sergeant Gordon William Best.
On this date in 1954, Deputy Masters was accidentally shot and killed by the 12-year-old daughter of one of his friends. He was conducting a larceny investigation when he stopped by a friend’s home. The friend was showing him a homemade pistol. Deputy Masters unloaded the gun but neglected to unload the round in the chamber. The friend’s daughter came into the room, picked up the gun, and pulled the trigger to make a joke. The round in the chamber fired, striking Deputy Masters in the stomach.
On this date in 2021, Sergeant Gordon Best was killed in a vehicle crash at 3809 Hwy 17 S near 39th Avenue S while responding to a call at about 4:00 am. His patrol car left the roadway and struck a utility pole during the rain.
