SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Lexington County
Monday, Aug 5, 2024
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred the morning of Friday, August 2, 2024, in Lexington County.
Officers with the Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety responded to the medical center’s Emergency Department regarding a patient. Officers encountered a male patient who was armed with a handgun. During the encounter with the armed man, an officer shot him. During the encounter, an officer’s TASER was also deployed. The man is being treated for his injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured. SLED was requested to investigate by the Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety.
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 Lexington County was the 29th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety had no officer involved shootings last year.
