South Carolina teen kills man in self-defense while held at knifepoint

A South Carolina teenager being held by a man with a knife at a motel shot and killed him in self-defense, deputies said Thursday.

Lt. Ryan Flood, with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, said the shooting happened Wednesday night at 20 Chalmers Road, which is the Travelers Inn.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office identified the man killed as John Parker, 50, who officials said was living at the motel.

Deputies said they were called to the shooting at about 9:15 p.m.

Flood said the shooting started after an altercation inside another person’s motel room, where Parker grabbed the 16-year-old and held him with a knife.

The teen’s name was not released because of his age.

“Acting in self-defense, the juvenile pulled a handgun and shot Parker, resulting in his death,” Flood said.

Jennifer Cason, with the coroner’s office, said Parker suffered at least one gunshot at the motel.

More news: College student dies after boat crash in South Carolina

Parker died of his injuries at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital just before 10 p.m., Cason said.

Flood said investigators discovered that the pistol used by the teen in the shooting was stolen.

The teen was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia, according to Flood.