Family of man killed in police-involved shooting in Florence seeks answers

FLORENCE COUNTY, SC (WBTW) — Relatives of a man killed in a Florence police officer-involved shooting say they have no idea what led to the deadly confrontation, but they are also suffering.

Authorities said they were executing an arrest warrant for Matthew Paul Barry, 41, when he opened fire from his Brittany Drive apartment Monday night. He was wanted in connection with a murder that occurred a day earlier.

“We don’t really know if the police made any connections, but if there was any involvement, we want to apologize to the victims,” ​​Sophia Moffit, the daughter of Barry’s fiancée, told News13.

Moffit said her mother was in the apartment with Barry when police arrived. He had recently been released from prison, and that may have been the reason for his actions. Authorities said Barry barricaded them both in the apartment.

She was able to escape after authorities used tear gas. Barry appeared behind her and began shooting at police, Moffit said.

“My mother just wanted everyone to know that he was a good man and that he loved his family with everything he had,” she said.

Officers were searching for Barry in connection with the death of 34-year-old Idris Chance Ali Cooper, who was found dead in the Colonial Gardens parking lot next to a running car.

Neighbors told News13 on Tuesday that their community is normally quiet and that the violence took them by surprise.

“We’ve seen police come to this apartment complex before, but we knew something like this would happen,” one person said.

Police have not said whether Barry shot himself or if officers shot him. The South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation.

Rely on News13 for updates.