COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland County deputies say their officers shot a suspect dead after he fired at them multiple times near Two Notch Road in Columbia Monday morning.
Richland County Chief Deputy Chief Maria Yturria confirmed around noon that the suspect had been killed after an hours long standoff with deputies that shut down the busy road.
Yturria said the incident began just before 9 a.m. when a person working with one of the local power companies came to the home. Yturria said the man inside the resident came out of the house and pointed a gun at the woman, screaming at her to leave the property. The woman left and called 911.
Yturria said two Richland County deputies then responded to the home and attempted to make contact with the man. She said he came outside and screamed at them to get away, eventually firing multiple shots at the officers.
Deputies then called for backup and additional officers and negotiators arrived. They also worked to get innocent bystanders out of the area.
Yturria said the officers attempted multiple times to make contact with the suspect both by phone and through a PA system but he did not respond. Instead, they say he kept coming in and out of the home, showing his gun each time.
The agency's special response team then came to the scene. Yturria said they continued to try and make contact but eventually, he came out and fired at deputies. About five or six deputies returned fire, wounding the suspect.
The man was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
When officers searched inside the home they said they found several suspicious packages which they are checking out. No other people were inside.
When asked if they had any prior incidents with the suspect, Yturria said he was "very well known" to them and that they'd had multiple dealings with him in the past.
The suspect's name is not being revealed until the coroner can notify his family.
The incident led to an hours-long back up on Two Notch Road, one of the busiest roads in the city. An area between Arcadia Lakes Drive and Roof Street on Two Notch Road was shut down but some lanes have now reopened.
This is a developing story. WLTX will post additional details when they become available.