Richland County Sheriff says teens shot at his officers during chase

Lott addressed the media on Monday following the early Sunday morning incident, which began when deputies attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle on Winnsboro Road. According to Lott, the two teenagers inside the vehicle aimed their weapons at a pursuing deputy and another officer who was trying to terminate the chase using stop sticks.

“By the grace of God, I’m standing here talking about their arrest and not reporting on a deputy being killed, because they certainly tried to kill one,” Lott stated.

The vehicle eventually crashed after hitting the stop sticks, and the chase concluded near a residential area where both teens were apprehended.

During the Monday news conference, Lott displayed the firearms involved in the incident.

“These are not just ordinary guns; they are high-capacity rifles designed specifically to kill,” Lott emphasized. “These firearms are not intended for hunting or personal protection; their sole purpose is to harm.”

Lott also presented dash cam footage from one of the deputy’s vehicles, which captured segments of the pursuit. The audio reveals a deputy declaring, “shots fired,” while Lott pointed out the moments when shots were discharged. Fortunately, no deputies were injured in the exchange of gunfire.

Following the crash, the suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. A K-9 officer was deployed to track one suspect to an unoccupied home, while the other was located in an outbuilding. Lott noted that one suspect was bitten by the canine after failing to comply with the deputy’s commands.

The sheriff indicated this incident marked the fourth chase his deputies had been involved in that night, defending the necessity of pursuing suspects. He underscored the daily dangers faced by his officers.

“We are confronting individuals in stolen cars who possess firearms and exhibit complete disregard for life and safety, actively attempting to harm our deputies,” Lott asserted. “We will not cease our efforts or tolerate such behavior.”

“It is our duty to remove such individuals from the streets and safeguard our citizens,” Lott continued. “If we fail to act, we risk being held accountable for not preventing potential victimization. It is a delicate balance we must maintain during these pursuits.”

The vehicle involved was reported stolen from Rock Hill, where one of the suspects resides, while the other is from Lexington. Lott noted that both teens have multiple prior offenses on their records.

“This is not their first rodeo,” Lott remarked. “They have been given numerous chances through probation, and despite repeated violations, they continue to engage in criminal behavior, as they did in this incident.”