Three suspects arrested in officer shooting
A North Charleston police officer was shot earlier Saturday morning at the El Cheapo Gas Station on Dorchester Road and South Allen Drive, which is near Interstate 26. // Tyrone Walker- Staff Photo
Authorities have arrested three men in connection with the shooting of a North Charleston police officer early this morning.
Investigators acting on leads found the three suspects shortly before 6 p.m. inside a Barony Park Circle home, North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
He said the investigation is ongoing.
The shooting happened about 3 a.m. at the El Cheapo Gas Station on Dorchester Road and South Allen Drive, which is near Interstate 26.
The officer's injuries were not life-threatening, Pryor said.
Police had been called to a South Allen Drive residence shortly before 3 a.m. for a report of a theft, Pryor said. At the scene, the victim gave officers a description of the man who robbed him.
Soon after officers left the scene of the theft, one of them saw a person at the gas station who matched the description of the robber, Pryor said.
The officer approached the suspect, who immediately opened fire on the officer, striking him twice, Pryor said. The officer did not fire his weapon, he said.
The officer was transported to MUSC with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to a source close to the investigation, the officer's bullet-resistant vest caught one of the bullets and another round struck his knee. The source said the officer was in good spirits at the hospital.
The Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county sheriff's offices and police from the city of Charleston, Mount Pleasant, the Charleston County Aviation Authority and the S.C. Highway Patrol assisted the North Charleston Police Department, Pryor said.
Earlier:
The suspect was still at large and officers were searching for him in the Dorchester Road area.
He is described as a black man, 6 feet 2 inches tall, wearing all black clothing, a headband and shoulder-length dreadlocks. Anyone with information about him should call North Charleston Police at 554-5700 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.
