FLORENCE COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – SLED agents are leading an investigation and an officer is on administrative leave after a deputy was involved in a shooting.
A Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputy was involved in a shooting on Thursday evening in the area near Highway 52 and I-95.
Major Michael Nunn, with the FCSO, confirmed the incident in an email to News13.
The deputy was not injured, according to Nunn.
On Friday, Nunn told News13 the deputy involved is on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Thom Berry, with SLED, confirmed to News13 that the agency has been contacted and is on scene conducting an investigation, at the request of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
A call came in about a fight in the parking lot of a store off Highway 52 and I-95, according to Berry. When the responding deputy arrived, they reportedly saw three people fighting. The deputy then got out of the patrol car and began giving commands. Two of the three individuals complied with the deputy’s commands. Those two others also reportedly told the deputy that the third person had a gun.
The deputy then instructed the third person to show their hands, said Berry. The individual then reportedly turned and presented a handgun, and the deputy fired. The person shot was taken to a hospital, where they remain. SLED is leading the investigation.
Berry wasn’t able to provide information on how many times the deputy fired at the suspect or the condition of the person shot. No information on possible charges in the case is available.
News13 had a crew at the scene of the incident on Thursday night.
HAPPENING NOW: #Florence County Sheriff’s Deputy was involved in a shooting in the area of Highway 52 and I-95. The deputy was not injured. The suspect has been transported to an area hospital for treatment pic.twitter.com/4R4QMjJeGP— Teresa Galasso (@TeresaOnTV) December 6, 2018
Standard procedure for law enforcement agencies in South Carolina is to have SLED conduct an independent investigation regarding officer involved shooting incidents.
In October, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office instead contacted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to investigate, following the ambush that killed two law enforcement officials.
Count on News13 for updates on both incidents.