Shooting suspect 'was not like this'

Girlfriend: Meds altered personality

The girlfriend of Russell Daniel Andrew Breaker, who's accused of gunning down a man in a West Ashley condominium Sunday, said he had a dramatic personality change after doctors altered medication he takes for his heart and blood pressure.

Breaker, 22, allegedly fled the Concord West of the Ashley complex about 6:45 a.m. after shooting Michael Brock, 29, three times, according to police reports.

Charleston Police public information officer Charles Francis said Breaker was still on the run Monday evening.

Elizabeth Payseur, 19, said she grew up with Breaker in West Ashley and has been going out with him for more than four years. The couple lived together in an apartment on Carriage Lane and have a child together, she said.

Breaker's behavior had grown more controlling, violent and unpredictable since doctors altered his medication about a month ago, she said. He also began drinking heavily at that time, she said.

His behavior change was surprising, she said. "He was not like this," she said. "He's not a mean, physically violent person. It's not in his nature."

But over the past few weeks, she said, as Breaker became more unstable, she began spending some nights at her mother's condominium because she was afraid of him.

Payseur said her 2-year-old daughter was at her mother's home in Hollywood at the time of the shooting.

Payseur said she had spent Friday night and most of the day Saturday with Breaker. They were arguing when she went to work at Jersey Mike's on Sycamore Avenue in West Ashley at 4:30 p.m., she said. And he called her at work and continued arguing, she said.

Brock was her friend and co-worker, she said. He came home with her because she told him she didn't feel safe.

Brock went out on the third-floor unit's balcony to smoke about 6:45 a.m., she said. Soon afterward, Breaker kicked the door in and hit her in the face, according to the police report. Then he walked onto the balcony and shot Brock three times, she told police. "Michael didn't say one word," she said.

Payseur said she's staying with family members out of state until law enforcement officers find Breaker.

Greg Whitehair, who hired Breaker a few months ago to do odd jobs, said he's also shocked by the allegations.

Breaker never missed work, Whitehair said. "He never even said a cuss word on the job."

But then Breaker didn't come to work last Wednesday, he said. And Whitehair never heard from him again.

Addah Carrigg, 29, said Monday that she had been going out with Brock for the past 10 years. Brock, she said, was a loving father and an "all-around great guy."

Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.