An officer-involved shooting took place on Thursday morning in Berkeley County, South Carolina, multiple law enforcement sources are confirming to this news site.
According to our sources, the incident began in the early morning hours with the first of several pursuits involving two suspects – Ricky Dewayne Johnson and Vanessa Jo Bapp.
Bapp, 32, was apprehended in a stolen vehicle without incident. Johnson, also 32, was apprehended separately by U.S. Marshals’ deputies following a foot pursuit.
During the pursuit, he presented a firearm at the deputies – prompting them to open fire. Johnson was struck at least once and is currently receiving treatment for his wound at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, S.C.
No law enforcement officers were harmed during the incident.
“If they (criminals) haven’t learned by now, if you pull a gun on one of my deputies, you’re going to get shot,” Berkeley County sheriff Duane Lewis told reporters during a press conference on Thursday afternoon. “They make that choice, we don’t make that choice for them.”
This is the eleventh officer-involved shooting in the Palmetto state this year – and the second this week (a fatal officer-involved shooting took place in Greenville County late Monday). It’s also the second officer-involved shooting in Berkeley County this month.
Last year, South Carolina set a new record with 49 officer involved shootings.
As is the case in all officer-involved shootings in the Palmetto State, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) will investigate the incident. Upon completing its review, SLED will forward the findings of its inquiry to the solicitor’s office with jurisdiction over the county where the shooting took place. In this case, that would be S.C. ninth circuit solicitor Scarlett Wilson.
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own guest column or letter to the editor via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we’re doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Banner: iStock