Lawsuit Filed Alleges Gross Negligence in Connection with 2021 Incident

Charleston Attorney Julian Allen filed a lawsuit against the City of Clemson on January 31st, alleging that a police officer was not properly trained in the use of force, which led to the shooting death of 25 year-old Gregory Chandler Metz. The lawsuit alleges that the City is liable for “negligence, gross negligence recklessness and other liability forming conduct.”

Early one morning in February 2021, Clemson Police and SLED Agents were at a Circle K gas station on College Avenue where they confronted Metz about a stolen moped and an altercation ensued. During a struggle, Metz allegedly showed a firearm and “officers defended themselves and shots were fired,” according to a press release issued from the department shortly after the incident. Chief Jorge Campos said officers rendered first aid and called for EMS assistance, but Metz died of his injuries. No officers were hurt.

Metz’s mother told reporters he had been battling a drug addiction for the past decade and that incident was a product of that battle. Metz’s mother went on to tell reporters that it’s likely that he was under the influence at the time of the incident.