Churches in prayer after teen shot in police encounter

By Jessica Brodie

BERKELEY COUNTY—Prayers and mourning continue this month after the death of a teenager at the hands of police.

Tyren Jerome Kinloch, 17, was the grandson of the Rev. Stephanie Stafford, pastor of Bluff Road United Methodist Church, Columbia, and grandnephew of the Rev. Geneva Stafford, pastor of Francis Burns UMC, Columbia. 

According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, their team is investigating the officer-involved shooting, which occurred April 22 in Berkeley County. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office requested the SLED investigation. SLED reported that during a traffic stop, a teenager got out of a stopped vehicle and ran. During a chase, the deputy fired. The teen, Tyren, was shot and transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

SLED said the incident is the 15th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina this year and the second this year for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.

In his obituary, Tyren was described as having a smile “like the sun breaking into the day, a grin that could chase every shadow away.”

He leaves behind his mother, Kylie Kinloch; sisters Ky’Asia, Brianna, Mahogany, Taniyah, Erica, Venetia and Tiemeisha; brothers Cedric and Sharona; grandparents, nephews, aunts, uncles, grandaunts and host of cousins, others relatives and friends. 

 “We pray for peace, justice, understanding, and God’s grace and mercy as the Stafford family journeys through this most difficult time,” said the Rev. Fran M. Elrod, Columbia District superintendent.

The SLED investigation continues.