Autopsy released in Officer-involved Shooting in Seneca

An autopsy was performed Tuesday morning on 19-year-old Zachary Hammond of Seneca, the victim of an officer-involved shooting Sunday night in the Hardee’s parking lot off Bypass 123. The exam confirmed Hammond sustained two gunshot wounds to the upper left torso, one in the chest and the other in the collarbone. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis reports that the gunshot wound to the chest was fatal and that the gunshot wound to the shoulder region was not a fatal wound. Both wounds are consistent with a .45 caliber handgun, which are used by Seneca Police and the weapon collected by SLED as evidence late Sunday night. Addis said that Hammond’s manner of death is classified as a homicide. Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division or SLED were present at the autopsy. SLED continues to investigate the death of Zachary Hammond and their findings are to be submitted to 10th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Chrissy Adams for review. The Seneca Police Officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard protocol in these situations.