SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Florence County
Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Florence County.
An armed man, later identified as Robert Edward Lee Napper, 57, by Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken, fired into a vehicle with two people inside. The two people inside the vehicle were not injured. Napper attempted to speed away, but his vehicle rolled over into a ditch. After the crash, Napper began shooting from inside his vehicle. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and deputies returned fire. Napper was shot and died. No law enforcement officers were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the Florence County Sheriff’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 Florence County is the 40th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026.
This is the 4th officer involved shooting for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2025, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office had 1 officer involved shooting last year.
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For media inquiries, please email SLED’s Public Information Office: pio@sled.sc.gov
