SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Sumter County deputies are investigating after a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper said he was forced to shoot and kill a charging dog on Sunday morning.
According to an initial incident report from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the 1200 block of Gulledge Circle in Wedgefield around 11 a.m. to investigate the incident. The trooper told deputies he was delivering paperwork to the home regarding a traffic stop and turned on his body-worn camera. According to the report, the trooper noticed a dog on a chain, so he started walking toward the home and a van in the yard.
The report states that the trooper saw puppies and heard growling, so he started to back up toward his patrol car. The report said that as the trooper approached his vehicle, he saw a dog charge at him. He responded by firing his duty weapon. The incident report states that the dog was dead by the time deputies arrived.
The responding deputy also spoke with the residents of the home, who said they were inside when they heard gunfire and looked out to see that the trooper had shot their pit bull. Deputies recovered shell casings from the scene and are still investigating the incident.
Authorities said the trooper appeared to be OK.
