SALLEY, S.C. — A man is in the hospital with his next stop being jail after allegedly opening fire on a South Carolina deputy on Sunday.
The Aiken County Sheriff's Office said they were initially called to the 300 block of Depot Ave. NE in the Salley area around 1 a.m. regarding a suspect with a shotgun who showed up at the 911 caller's home and left.
Deputies searched the area and eventually found the man still walking with the weapon and allegedly refusing to put it down. The sheriff's office said he continued to walk away but eventually put down the gun. At one point, however, deputies said he reached behind his back into his waistband while still not obeying their commands.
The sheriff's office said the man fired a handgun at the deputies after being hit with a beanbag round. The deputies returned fire, striking the suspect.
The sheriff's office said deputies aided the suspect until Aiken County Emergency Medical Services arrived. He was then taken to an area hospital.
The sheriff's office said no deputies were hit. The office has requested the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which will conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. Authorities said the suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, was considered stable at the last check; however, his specific condition was not released.
