Bodycam footage shows ex-Florence County deputy shoot suspect hiding under couch cushion

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - The Florence County Sheriff’s Office released the body camera footage where a now-former deputy is seen shooting and killing a suspect hiding under a couch cushion.

Almost 50 minutes of Treyvon Sellers’ body camera footage from the deadly May 26 shooting was posted to the sheriff’s office’s YouTube page Friday.

Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye said he would have released the video earlier, but the victim, 43-year-old William Rankin’s family did not want it released until the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s investigation was over.

In addition, the sheriff’s office also released Sellers’ car dash cam video, which shows the deputy locked in a car chase with 43-year-old William Rankin.

After Rankin crashes into a tree on East National Cemetery Road, he runs away into a nearby trailer as Sellers and a K-9 hop out of the patrol car to chase after him.

The deputy and the K-9 enter through the front door and make it to the living room area, where the K-9 appears to jump on someone, and Sellers finds Rankin hiding on a couch.

Sellers then removes the large couch cushion Rankin was hiding underneath away from him, saying, “Hey, I see you, dude, get on the [explicit] ground,” the video shows.

Following a quick exchange of words, Sellers tells Rankin that if he moves, he will shoot. Almost immediately after saying that, Sellers opened fire five times, ultimately killing Rankin.

Rankin was unarmed at the time, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Sellers tells dispatch that shots were fired, and a couple of minutes later, EMS is seen trying to give aid to Rankin.

The release of this footage comes two days after it was announced Sellers will be facing charges in the case.

SLED charged him with voluntary manslaughter, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, as well as misconduct in office.

The case will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye said he fired Sellers after learning of his arrest.

Sellers is also accused of using improper commands for his K-9, allowing the animal to maul the homeowner for 87 seconds, according to SLED, and cause “permanent disfigurement and impairment.”

The dog can be heard breathing loudly during the attack, the video shows.

Major Mike Nunn from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office tells WMBF News Sheriff Joye has always opted to release body camera footage in order to be transparent to the community.

“If there was an event involving community interest, he was going to disclose it, and it didnt matter whether the video was favorable to the sheriff’s office or not favorable, he believed that that transparency and openness was essential,” said Nunn.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.