SLED investigating officer involved shooting in Anderson County
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2025
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, February 23, 2025, in Anderson County.
A deputy with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a man to serve a family court bench warrant. The man was riding a bicycle on H Street in Anderson, SC. During the encounter between the armed man and the deputy, the man abandoned his bicycle and there was a foot chase. The man pulled a handgun from his waistband, and the deputy shot him. The man was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The man was identified by the Anderson County Coroner’s Office as Lawrence Devilbiss, 55. SLED was requested to investigate by the Anderson 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 Anderson County is the 5th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2025. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2024, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office 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.
