Bennie Lee Rice, described as a Black man from Laurens, South Carolina, was found dead in his home on Franklin Drive in mid‑July 2016. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation to determine whether the shooting was a homicide or accidental.

No immediate suspects were publicly identified and no arrests were reported. Authorities did not release information about a motive, and the investigation appears to have produced no public breakthroughs or charges in the years since. If anyone knew Bennie Rice or has information about what happened at the Franklin Drive residence in July 2016, please come forward.