BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A Berkeley County deputy won’t face any charges related to a fatal shooting that occurred on Interstate 526 several months ago.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis, Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson wrote that Brent Conrad, 37, of Huger, died by suicide – and not by Berkeley County Deputy Cody Graff’s gun.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Conrad had been struggling with mental health issues to include extreme paranoia. At the time of his death, Mr. Conrad’s family was actively pursuing treatment options for him,” Wilson wrote.
According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 8, 2023 around 11:30 a.m., Conrad led deputies on a vehicle chase through busy traffic on I-526 at the Wando River bridge.
Once Conrad’s truck stopped, authorities said he opened the driver’s side door, and deputies as well as bystanders heard a gunshot.
“There is nothing to indicate that Conrad fired shots at law enforcement or the general public,” Wilson told Lewis. “While Cody Graff could not be completely certain at the time he fired his weapon, Conrad’s lone shot had killed him.”
Authorities said Graff later recovered Conrad’s 9mm pistol from his lap. An autopsy later revealed that Conrad had sustained a close-range gunshot wound to the head.
A SLED DNA analysis also revealed Conrad’s DNA on the 9mm pistol, its ammunition, and the magazine pouch, which was located on the floorboard, investigators said.
“While Deputy Graff fired his 40-caliber pistol after Conrad fired his own weapon, Graff’s round did not cause serious injury to Conrad or anyone else,” Wilson said. “For this reason, there is insufficient evidence to support an indictment of Deputy Graff on criminal charges.”
According to Wilson, she has met with Conrad’s family to explain her decision to not charge Graff.
Graff has been employed by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office since January 2009.
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