South Carolina Records 26 Officer-Involved Shootings in 2024 So Far

South Carolina Records 26 Officer-Involved Shootings in 2024 So Far

South Carolina has documented 26 officer-involved shootings since the beginning of 2024 through July 17. This figure represents an increase from last year, with four more such incidents compared to the same period in 2023, as recorded by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Officer-Involved Shootings’ Geographic Distribution and Impact

These shootings are geographically diverse, with over half occurring in Upstate counties and more than a quarter in Lowcountry counties. Tragically, 15 individuals lost their lives in these incidents in various circumstances, including physical altercations with law enforcement, exchanges of gunfire, and events involving barricaded individuals.

During these officer-involved confrontations, additional casualties have occurred, including seven people who suffered injuries, along with three instances that resulted in no harm or loss of life. These details have been sourced from both SLED and media reports.

Public Reaction and Concerns

These statistics have sparked concern among community leaders. Rev. Thomas Dixon, a North Charleston activist, shared his worries: “One shooting of this type, whether fatal or not, is one too many… The number of officer-involved shootings we see in South Carolina in the first six months of this year is disturbing… And if this is the norm, we are not winning the battle to make our communities safe.”

Overview of the Incidents

Following is an abbreviated account in chronological order of each officer-involved shooting as reported by SLED and various media:

January:

As the year commenced, the state saw four incidents of officer-involved shootings, three of which resulted in deaths. These occurred in Spartanburg, Landrum, and West Ashley. Additionally, a suspect was wounded in an exchange of gunfire during a police chase in Charleston County.

February:

The subsequent month, February, saw two fatal incidents in Summerville and North Charleston, with an additional shooting incident involving no confirmed injuries.

March to May:

From March to May, the frequency of these events increased. Ten such shootings happened during this period, with varying outcomes including deaths, injuries, an officer’s car door sparking a fight, a “graze wound,” and a police dog being stabbed.

June and July:

In June and July, nine officer-involved shooting incidents were reported, resulting in multiple fatalities, including the death of Quentin Ravenel, a Charleston resident, and several others being wounded.

The present situation raises questions about the prevailing law enforcement practices and the desperate need for de-escalation procedures to prevent these escalating violent confrontations.