Agents of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating a shooting incident that took place in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 11 in Laurens County, S.C.
According to our sources, the incident took place at the Laurens County Memorial Hospital shortly before 2:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
At that time, a white male officer with the Greenville Health Authority police reportedly received a call that an individual inside the hospital was armed with a weapon.
The officer approached this individual – also a white male – and a confrontation reportedly ensued during which the suspect fired at least one round at the officer, who returned fire.
Both the officer and the suspect were wounded during the shootout, however initial reports suggest they will survive their injuries.
Thankfully, no bystanders were hurt during the exchange of gunfire.
News of the shooting was first reported by WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville/ Spartanburg, S.C.). According to the station, a witness in the emergency room of the facility “heard gunshots and screaming.”
SLED was called shortly before 2:15 a.m. EDT by officers of the Laurens County, S.C. sheriff’s office.
[su_dominion_video_scb]As a matter of protocol, SLED investigates nearly all officer-involved shootings that take place in the Palmetto State – and there is legislation before the S.C. General Assembly that would standardize this protocol throughout the state.
This is the sixteenth officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2019, and the first involving a Greenville Health Authority officer. In 2017, the Palmetto State set a new record with 49 officer involved shootings.
UPDATE: Charges filed …
-FITSNews
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