The funeral for an Orangeburg County law enforcement officer who laid down his life in the line of duty will be held today in Santee.

The funeral of Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Cpl. William Howell will be held at 11 a.m. at the Lake Marion High School.

The public is invited to attend.

A 16-year law enforcement veteran, Howell was killed while answering a domestic violence call in Holly Hill last weekend.

Law enforcement officers from around the state and country will participate in the services to honor the fallen 46-year-old officer.

Prior to the service, a police processional will leave the Orangeburg-Calhoun Law Enforcement Complex where Howell was employed. A motorcycle escort will be provided by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is providing a horse-drawn caisson while the Charleston City Police will be present with a marching pipe band.

Howell will be laid to rest at Silas United Methodist Church in Eutawville, with the Rev. Mark Williams officiating.

In the early hours of May 3, Howell responded to a call concerning a domestic altercation. While Howell was providing an escort for a Holly Hill woman, a man fired a single shot at Howell, who was later declared dead at the scene.

When he was off duty, Howell was a movie buff and enjoyed family time, relatives said earlier this week.

He became the second South Carolina law enforcement official to be killed in the line of duty this year.

In this decade, 38 South Carolina police officers have been killed in the line of duty.

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