SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Charleston County
Thursday, Jul 18, 2024
Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Charleston County.
Officers with the Charleston Police Department responded to calls for service regarding an armed man. Officers encountered a male subject, later identified as Harper Lawrence-Weiland, 21. During the encounter, an officer fired at Lawrence-Weiland. Lawrence-Weiland was not struck by gunfire. No law enforcement officers were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the Charleston Police Department. SLED charged Lawrence-Weiland with Burglary 1st Degree. Lawrence-Weiland was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston County. The case will be prosecuted by the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
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 Charleston County was the 26th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 2nd officer involved shooting for the Charleston Police Department this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Charleston Police Department had no officer involved shootings last year.
