Jerald Mitchel Mitch Steele, a 63-year-old Army veteran from Hodges, South Carolina, was shot and killed at a Maness Drive residence on the evening of Sunday, May 17, 2026. He was described as a devoted family man and outdoorsman; deputies say he died at the scene.

Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office investigators say the shooting arose from a domestic dispute. The suspect identified and taken into custody is Curtis Lawrence, who is the boyfriend of Steele’s daughter. Investigators say Lawrence had been told not to come to the family home that night. Lawrence was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and a magistrate denied him bond at his initial court appearance.

Anyone who knew Mitch Steele, his movements that evening, or who has information about the dispute is asked to come forward.