SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Aiken County
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Aiken County.
Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) attempted to pull over a man for speeding on Interstate 20 near Mile Marker 5. The vehicle drove off; troopers pursued and were joined by Aiken County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The vehicle was disabled by a cable median barrier on I-20 near Mile Marker 22 and 23. The driver, armed with a rifle, got out of the vehicle and fled. A SCHP trooper and Aiken County deputies pursued the armed man. Deputies encountered the armed man near a wooded area. During the encounter, Aiken County deputies shot the man. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and remains there at this time. SLED was requested to investigate by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Aiken County is the 14th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026.
This is the 2nd officer involved shooting for the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2025, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office had 2 officer involved shootings last year.
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For media inquiries, please email SLED’s Public Information Office: pio@sled.sc.gov
