Cowpens woke up to heartbreak early Wednesday as Matthew Edward Carter, 42, was found shot and killed in a rural stretch of the community, ending a life that many say was deeply woven into the fabric of those around him.
Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office were called out around 12:50 a.m. on February 4, 2026, after reports of gunfire at a home along Graham Chapel Road. The address, 235 Graham Chapel Road, sits in a normally quiet area where neighbors are more used to still nights than flashing blue lights.
When officers arrived, they found Carter suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Emergency aid was given at the scene, but it was not enough. He was pronounced dead there, under the dark sky, before he could be rushed to a hospital.
Investigators say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident. Authorities stressed that there is no ongoing danger to the public, a message meant to calm a community shaken awake by sudden violence.
Even so, many questions remain unanswered. Detectives continue to work the case, piecing together what led to the fatal shooting and who may be responsible. For now, officials are keeping details close as the investigation unfolds.
Carter’s death has left a heavy silence among family, friends, and neighbors. Those who knew him describe a man whose presence mattered, someone whose absence is already being felt in small, painful ways. Loved ones have asked for prayers, comfort, and privacy as they begin to grieve.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to step forward. Sergeant Ken Hammett is handling the case and can be reached at (864) 503-4569 or by email at khammett@spartanburgcounty.org. Even the smallest detail, investigators say, could help bring clarity and justice.
As Cowpens mourns, Matthew Edward Carter is being remembered not for the way his life ended, but for the life he lived. In the quiet that follows tragedy, many hope answers will come, and that his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
