Deputies responding to officer down at Sumter residence; officer, suspect shot and taken to hospitals

Sumter County Sheriff's Office deputies and Sumter Police Department officers are responding to reports of an officer-involved shooting in the 3100 block of Thomas Sumter Highway about 11:30 a.m. The county deputy who was shot was taken to an area hospital in unknown condition, according to Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis.

According to unofficial reports, the deputy’s condition is serious.

The suspect was also shot and is in unknown condition, according to Dennis.

As of 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, the situation was not active. Sumter deputies were waiting for South Carolina Law Enforcement Division officers to arrive at the scene. South Carolina Highway Patrol is also on scene.

The Sumter Item arrived on scene as an ambulance blared past heading toward Sumter, and blue lights zoomed past the roadblock on U.S. 521 at Four Bridges Road. The area is in the county between the city and Dalzell. The road was completely blocked for a time, though reports have come in that vehicles may be let back through. Initially, law enforcement and first responder vehicles spanned both sides of one of the busiest roadways in Sumter.

Tommy Crosby, SLED spokesman, said agency officers are on scene.

Some Sumter School District bus routes from Crestwood High, Oakland Primary, High Hills Elementary and Shaw Heights Elementary schools may experience delays this afternoon.

“We ask for your patience as we work to transport our students home safely via an alternate route,” the district said in a social media post.

This story has been updated: https://www.theitem.com/stories/sumter-county-deputy-suspect-both-dead-after-gunfire-at-dalzell-home,341651