SLED investigating Two Saturday Morning Shootings in OC

Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw reports two shootings Saturday morning, including one that involved a Sheriff’s Office Deputy that has been turned over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Sheriff Crenshaw says that the 911 Communications Center received a call of multiple shots fired into a residence on Brock Road during the night. One victim received one gunshot wound to the shoulder and was transported by paramedics. As a result of the investigation, deputies were able to obtain the identity of the shooter. Sheriff’s investigators were notified around 2am and began the process of obtaining a search warrant along with arrest warrants that include multiple counts of attempted murder and began to set up a perimeter around the suspect’s home. The suspect, according to Sheriff Crenshaw, left the residence with a passenger inside. Both individuals in the vehicle were white males. The investigators activated their blue lights and sirens and tried to initiate a traffic stop but the suspect would not pull over and a short pursuit began, according to Sheriff Crenshaw. The vehicle came to a stop in the middle of Blackjack Road near Greenfield Road, which was approximately three to four miles from the suspect residence. According to Sheriff Crenshaw, shots were fired from inside of the vehicle and one deputy returned fire into the vehicle. The passenger and the suspect both sustained gunshot wounds; however, investigators believe at this time that the passenger was struck from gunfire inside of the vehicle while SLED is making a determination on how the suspect was struck by gunfire. The passenger and the suspect were both transported to receive medical treatment. The Sheriff’s Office does not believe any threats currently exist that would endanger the public. “Due to the fact of the ongoing SLED investigation, the Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing any suspect, victim, or deputy involved information until SLED has determined it would not interfere in their investigation,” said Sheriff Crenshaw. “The Sheriff’s Office has obtained arrest warrants against the suspect in the Brock Road shooting and we will release that information once the investigation is complete. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing,” concluded Sheriff Crenshaw.