The suspect, who was also Officer Vincent's cousin, had been released from the hospital for three days when he murdered his father and mother. The next morning, the suspect ambushed Officer Vincent in his driveway as he and his wife were taking their two-year-old daughter to the emergency room. The suspect fired a rifle from a window in his mother's house, which was next door to Officer Vincent's house, striking Officer Vincent in the head. He then walked across the yard and shot and killed Officer Vincent's wife as well before taking their daughter hostage. He surrendered to police several hours later.

In February 2001, the suspect pled guilty in order to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to four life terms without the possibility of parole. Officer Vincent had been employed with the Greenville Police Department for eight years, and is survived by his daughter and parents.