How a 42-year man met death in a fiery camper

The man who died during a law enforcement response yesterday near Townville is reported by the coroner to have barricaded himself inside a camper trailer and set it on fire.  But Greg Shore, the Anderson coroner, says Robert Michael Nason Jr. subsequently shot himself.  According to the coroner, the barricade situation began yesterday morning while 42-year old Nason was being evicted from property on Fields Avenue between SC 24 and the Portman Shoals Marina.  Shore gave the following account: “The decedent had been served an eviction notice last week and still had not vacated the property when Anderson County Sheriff’s Office was requested to respond to the scene.  The decedent then began setting an adjacent building and a vehicle on fire.  While speaking with deputies, the decedent barricaded himself in a small camper trailer, set it on fire and then apparently sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Based on preliminary investigation there appears to be no indication and/or evidence of foul play.  The cause of death is gunshot wound and the manner of death appears to be suicide.”