More Charges filed against Walhalla Area Homicide Suspect

A Westminster man who was charged last week by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in relation to a Walhalla area homicide was formally booked into the Oconee County Detention Center Wednesday evening. After being transferred from Greenville Memorial Hospital, 24-year-old Tyler Mark Broome was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 8:29pm. Last Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for Broome on one count each of murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and entering premises after warning in relation to an incident that occurred on Quarter Horse Trail in which 63-year-old Robert Steven McDowell was shot and later died. After being served with his arrest warrants last Thursday, Broome was denied bond on all three charges. He will appear at a bond hearing before a Circuit Court Judge at a later time. The investigation by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office began last Thursday morning as deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division were dispatched around 3:35am to an address on Quarter Horse Trail in regards to reports of trespassing. While enroute, deputies were notified that shots had been fired and the homeowner had been shot. Once deputies arrived, they were directed to the rear of the residence by the homeowner’s wife where they discovered the homeowner. Deputies administered first aid to the homeowner, identified as McDowell, until paramedics arrived and McDowell was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. According to investigators, Broome shot McDowell as McDowell was holding Broome at gunpoint after McDowell discovered Broome on the property. McDowell returned fire and shot Broome. Broome was also transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. The investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. Broome was served with a trespass notice from the incident address on Quarter Horse Trail on June 21, 2017. On Thursday, investigators also obtained a second charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and one count of attempted murder in regards to the same incident. According to investigators, they believe that after the initial exchange of gunfire between McDowell and Broome that Broome continued to fire his weapon as he fled from the scene. Broome was located at a separate location on Quarter Horse Trail by deputies and received first aid for his injuries from deputies before paramedics arrive and Broome was transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital. According to Captain Greg Reed of the Criminal Investigations Division, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation and no further information on the investigation will be released at this time.