An Aiken County sheriff's deputy was shot and wounded during a late-night traffic stop in Aiken, South Carolina, and a manhunt for the person who fled and opened fire is under way, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, as reported by The State and by Officer.com.
Source: The State via Police1
The traffic stop happened at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in the area of S.C. 19 and Shiloh Heights Road, the sheriff's office said in updates reported by WRDW and cited by The State. There were two people in the vehicle. One person got out and ran, the deputy pursued on foot, and the fleeing person opened fire and hit the deputy, according to the sheriff's office account.
The deputy was taken to a hospital. Just before 5 a.m. on Thursday, the sheriff's office said the deputy was out of surgery at Wellstar MCG and listed in stable condition, according to a timeline of sheriff's updates and news reports. No other injuries were reported.
Source: Officer.com
Vehicle located, no arrest announced
Deputies shut roads around the scene and searched for a silver Hyundai Tucson connected to the incident. Early on Thursday the sheriff's office said that vehicle had been located, and the investigation was continuing. No arrest had been reported in the updates reviewed. Shiloh Heights Road was closed between Pipeline Road and Edgefield Highway for hours while a command post operated in the area.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has taken over the investigation into the shooting, the sheriff's office said. Anyone with information about the shooting or the manhunt is asked to call 911.
Second Aiken County deputy shot in October
This was the fourth shooting in 2026 involving a member of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office and the second in October, The State reported. On October 5, another Aiken County deputy was shot and run over during an encounter with an armed suspect, according to SLED as reported by the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police; that deputy was released from hospital on October 9 to begin rehabilitation. The two incidents are separate, and investigators have not linked them.
Traffic stop about 11:30 p.m. Wed. near S.C. 19 and Shiloh Heights Road, Aiken County; a fleeing passenger allegedly opened fire during a foot pursuit; deputy out of surgery and stable early Thu.; silver Hyundai Tucson located; no arrest announced; SLED investigating; call 911 with information.