SUMTER, S.C. — Sumter County Sheriff's Deputy, Corporal Andrew Gillette was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis says Gillette was serving an eviction order to a man in a home in the 3100 block of Thomas Sumter Highway.
That's when investigators say the man, now identified as 56-year-old Terry Hasty, fired at the deputies, hitting Gillette. They fired back, fatally shooting Hasty.
Gillette was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was hit. He served with the Sumter County Sheriff's Department since 2013.
He also served in the United State's Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base. He was medically retired after 12 years.
A retired sergeant reached out to WLTX to talk about Gillette. He did not want to be identified but said Gillette worked with the Air Crew Egress Systems, making ejection seats for F-16 jets.
He says Gillette was always about "service before self," and that he cared about everyone.
"It's not like we just lost a deputy, we lost a family member," says Sheriff Dennis. "Everyone here at the sheriff's office loved Gillette. He always had a smile on his face and he loved what he did, to serve and protect."