COWPENS, S.C. — A late-night shooting in the Cowpens community has left a 42-year-old man dead, prompting an ongoing investigation by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the scene early Wednesday morning after receiving reports of gunfire at a rural residence.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 12:50 a.m. on February 4, 2026, to a home located at 235 Graham Chapel Road. When deputies arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Emergency responders attempted to provide aid, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Matthew Edward Carter, 42. Authorities have not released information about what led up to the shooting or whether anyone else was present at the residence at the time. Investigators have also not disclosed if a weapon has been recovered.

Sheriff’s officials said detectives immediately began processing the scene, collecting evidence, and interviewing potential witnesses in the area. Crime scene investigators remained at the residence for several hours overnight as they worked to piece together the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting.

At this time, investigators believe the incident was isolated and have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public. No arrests have been announced, and authorities say additional details will be released as the investigation progresses. The case remains active as detectives continue to follow leads.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to contact Sergeant Ken Hammett with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 503-4569 or by email at khammett@spartanburgcounty.org. Officials encourage members of the community to come forward with any information, no matter how small, as they work to determine what happened and seek justice for the victim.