SLED investigating officer involved shooting in York County
Monday, Dec 9, 2024
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in York County.
Officers with the Rock Hill Police Department responded to a business on Cherry Road for a reported armed robbery. When officers searched the business, two people were found dead inside and one person was found injured. Officers encountered an armed man, later identified as Zachary East Elias, 28, leaving the business and officers pursued. During the pursuit, the truck driven by Elias wrecked on Cherry Road (US-21) near the Catawba River. During an encounter with Elias after the single vehicle wreck, an officer fired a service weapon. No one was shot. Elias sustained injuries from the collision which required medical attention. Elias was charged by Rock Hill Police Department with two counts of Murder, two counts of Attempted Murder, and Possession of a Weapon During a Crime of Violence. SLED was requested to investigate the officer involved shooting by the Rock Hill Police Department.
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 York County was the 41st officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Rock Hill Police Department this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Rock Hill Police Department had 1 officer involved shooting last year.
