RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott on Tuesday identified the off-duty deputy who was shot on Sunday evening and provided additional details about the shooting.
Corporal Terrence Crawford, a school resource officer, who has been with the department since 2014 and his fiancée were shot while Crawford's home near Pontiac around 11:40 p.m. Sunday.
Despite Crawford's marked vehicle being parked in front of his yard, Lott said Crawford was not the target the shooters were after, but was shot nonetheless.
"The shooting had nothing to do with his position at the Richland County Sheriff's Department," Lott said. "I want to make that clear."
Lott clarified that the victims were inside the house when the shooting happened. They were initially out on the porch, and they saw something that was suspicious, which caused them to go inside." Shortly after, the gunfire started.
While the deputy was not targeted, according to Lott, the shooting was targeted, though he declined to identify who they believe the target was. According to Lott, there were eight people inside the residence at the time of the shooting.
"What makes this scary, and they're all scary, is that how people, the shooters, they just don't care," Lott said. Lott went on to say the shooting was gang-related and any break-ins in the area had noting to do with this shooting.
"Our deputy was shot. His marked police car was parked in front of the house. There's no doubt they they knew that was a Richland County deputy that was living in that house," Lott said. "There was no doubt in their mind that, you know, he could've been the one that was shot, and he was shot, even though he may have not been who they were shooting at."
"This is the 96th drive by or walk up shooting that we've had in Richland County so far this year," Lott said. "96 times we've had someone that shot into a house. 96 times. It's just sad to think the mentality that we've got that's going on with some of these people out here with guns."
"These gangs talk about how they're big and bad and how tough they are," Lott said "How tough does it take to sneak around in the cover of darkness and sneak up to some house and then just start shooting into it and then run away like a little kid and hide? How brave is that?"
"Look at where all these bullets go. When these bullets start flying they go through walls, they go into other houses, they go into people's cars, All the innocent people that are subjected to this violence because 'these gangs' are 'big and bad' and 'we're going to show you what we can do,.' Lott said. "We're fixing to show you what we can do so just get ready for it. It's coming."
Lott was clearly frustrated about how careless the drive by shootings are. "They don't care who's in that house," Lott said. "It hasn't been that long ago, we had a little child that was killed, sitting there playing a game and some gang members shot into the house and killed a little boy. What did he have to do with it? They don't care."
"We've had innocent people ... we had a man was in his bed sleeping and somebody made a drive by. A man's in his bed sleeping and gets killed. They don't care," Lott said. "Well, we do care. We care. And that's why we're going to do everything we can to put a stop to it."
The message to the gangs: "You're fixing to find out who's big and bad in Richland County, and you're fixing to find out it ain't you," Lott said. "You're fixing to find out the full wait of the Richland County Sheriff's Department and law enforcement in the Midlands, not just because my deputy got shot but because enough is enough. 96 times that somebody's done something like this. It's time for this community to step up and put a stop to it. And I think it starts now."
As for Crawford and his fiancée, Lott said they will both both were shot in the lower parts of their leg, have been released from the hospital, "and they both will fully recover." While both are recovering, Lott said the trauma suffered psychologically is probably a lot more worse than their physical injuries, "Knowing that the security of your home, that something like this would happen."
Lott said deputies are looking for at least three suspects involved in the shooting.
If you have any information, deputies ask you to contact Crimestoppers anonymously in any of the following ways:
- Call 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).
- Use the P3 Tips mobile app.
- LOG ON to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a Tip” tab.