SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Horry County
Friday, Oct 16, 2026
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, in Horry County.
An officer with the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) arrived at a home on Hayes Point Circle in Myrtle Beach, SC, for a welfare check. The officer encountered an armed man, later identified as Kyle James Smith, 38, coming out of the back door of the home. Smith pointed his gun at the officer, and the officer fired at Smith. Smith was not shot and went back into the home. The officer fired again. Additional HCPD officers and HCPD SWAT responded to the scene. Smith refused to come out of the home, and HCPD learned there was a child inside. Smith released the child. The child was evaluated and found to be unharmed. Smith then surrendered to law enforcement. No one was physically injured. The investigation was requested by the Horry County Police Department.
On Friday, October 16, 2026, SLED charged Smith with Pointing and Presenting a Firearm and Unlawfully Placing a Child At Risk. The case will be prosecuted by the 15th 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 Horry County is the 34th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026.
This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Horry County Police Department this year.
In 2025, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Horry County Police Department had no officer involved shootings last year.
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For media inquiries, please email SLED’s Public Information Office: pio@sled.sc.gov
