BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has released new information about an early morning traffic stop that resulted in a state trooper being shot.
A spokesperson for the agency said that, around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Lance Corporal B.A. Frazier had initiated a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 78 in Bamberg County. Authorities said the suspect was going 20 mph over the speed limit at the time.
However, at some point during the traffic stop, investigators said the suspect began shooting at the trooper and then drove away. Frazier was struck in the right side of his face, authorities said in the latest update. However, his wound is not believed to be life-threatening.
Officials said another trooper heard the description of the suspect vehicle over a law enforcement radio frequency and found a vehicle that matched that description.
From there, the second trooper began chasing the vehicle until the suspect crashed into a house in Orangeburg County.
The Department of Public Safety deferred to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for additional information about the case. SLED is often requested to independently investigate shootings involving law enforcement in South Carolina.
At this time, no information about the suspect or whether that person has been taken into custody has been released.
According to an agency statement, Lance Corporal Frazier has been with Troop 7 since 2018 and serves in Post A which covers Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Hampton counties.