Advertisement Solicitor's Office releases 911 call from castle shooting Fatal shots can be heard in 911 call Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The Greenville County Solicitor's Office released the 911 call Tuesday from a fatal shooting last month outside a castle home in Greenville County. Previous stories: Death at Castle | Southern Tide owner IDed as shooter | Charges considered | Coroner releases detailsTo listen to the complete 911 call recording, click here.To read the full transcript of the 911 call, click here.Allen Stephenson, the founder of Southern Tide, shot and killed Matthew Whitman, 32, last month on the grounds of Stephenson’s estate, which was built to look like a German castle. Stephenson said Whitman was hostile and armed with a knife.Stephenson said Whitman took a knife out of his pants and thrust it at him, at which point Stephenson shot Whitman five times, the solicitor's office said. According to the solicitor's office, Stephenson fired seven shots: two warning shots from his porch, and five shots at Whitman from outside the home, three that struck him.Stephenson's girlfriend was on a call with 911 when the shots were fired. The shots can be heard in the call, according to officials. The solicitor's office said the two men did not know each other. The Solicitor's Office announced Tuesday that they wont prosecute Stephenson in connection with the shooting. The statement by Whitman's family said; "The Whitman family is disappointed by the decision not to prosecute Allen Stephenson for the homicide death of our son, Matthew. We have waited patiently while this investigation has proceeded and have been provided small pieces of information along the way.""We look forward to seeing the entire investigation file now that the Solicitor’s Office claims the investigation is 'over' and the Solicitor’s and Sheriff’s Offices have promised to now release it."Whitman lived on Nature Trail Drive, about a mile and a half from the estate.A release on Tuesday from Solicitor Walt Wilkins said: “Last week my office received the investigative file from the Sheriff’s Office regarding the fatal shooting that occurred on Altamont Road on March 19, 2016. This office reviewed all available evidence and consulted with the Greenville County sheriff’s investigators assigned to the case.“The evidence presented required an analysis pursuant to S.C. Code Sections 16-11-440 and 16-11-450, the Castle Doctrine and the Stand Your Ground law. I find that, in accordance with applicable state law, the shooting death of Matthew Eugene Whitman was justifiable homicide and that Allen Stephenson is immune from prosecution. The evidence indicates that Mr. Stephenson was legally standing his ground on his property and lawfully met force with deadly force and is immune from prosecution.”Stephenson's estate is on several acres of land about 6 miles north of downtown Greenville. The statement from the Whitman family also said; "The pieces of information that we have been provided suggest that Mr. Stephenson actually provoked this encounter. The family’s attorneys were allowed to hear the 911 call. During that call, the 911 operator and the witness both pleaded with Mr. Stephenson to return inside since 911 and been called and law enforcement was on the way. Matthew, at worst, was simply trespassing that morning." "It is interesting that Mr. Stephenson himself was convicted of trespassing, but when he pleaded guilty, he did not have to even pay a fine and he suffered no other consequences. Mr. Stephenson’s trespassing certainly did not result in the loss of his life." "We are anxious to hear all of the complete facts uncovered during this investigation and to compare all of the evidence gathered by law enforcement with the additional evidence we have gathered ourselves. After that, we will make a determination whether or not we will proceed with a civil action."On Tuesday, Stephenson's lawyer, Sloan Ellis, released a statement that said: "Contrary to the Whitman family lawyer's prior statements that Mr. Whitman's actions on March 19 were uncharacteristic of him, we have obtained an incident report showing that, shortly before incident leading to his death, Mr. Whitman’s own family felt compelled to seek police protection because of his behavior. When the deputies arrived at the home, Mr. Whitman was armed with a knife. A copy of the incident report is attached" "The incident report also states that either Mr. Whitman’s mother or grandmother inquired of the deputies as to how she could 'make Mathew get help for his depression and not acting like himself.' The deputies advised the family as to the mental health resources available to them and the process to have Mr. Whitman involuntarily committed. As the Solicitor noted in his press conference, there is at least one other report of Mr. Whitman being confrontational on someone else’s property.""The Solicitor also pointed out that the family members identified the knife Mr. Whitman used to attack Mr. Stephenson. The Solicitor stated that the knife in question, a Smith & Wesson, is accurately described as a hunting knife or deer knife.""The result of the in-depth and lengthy investigation confirmed what Mr. Stephenson has said all along. On the morning of March 19, Mr. Whitman attacked Allen Stephenson with a knife at Mr. Stephenson’s home. Mr. Whitman was not hiking in the woods or photographing nature, as his family’s lawyers have suggested. He was right outside the home and was acting in an irrational manner, apparently similar to the manner his own family described him as acting when they felt the need to call for police protection. Mr. Stephenson is deeply saddened by the tragic events of March 19. However, Mr. Whitman left Mr. Stephenson with no alternative than to defend himself and his fiancee. The lawyer’s efforts to impugn Mr. Stephenson’s reputation are inappropriate. As the Solicitor made clear today in his press conference, the facts of this case render Mr. Stephenson immune from prosecution."The 107-year-old castle, which was built for a baroness on several acres, was modeled after a castle on the Rhine. To see a gallery of pictures of the castle when it was for sale in 2011, click here.