UPDATE: Suspect in stabbing leads deputies on high-speed chase through 3 counties, exchanges fire before crashing vehicle

Update, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2: The suspect in the stabbing, high-speed chase and officer-involved shooting who later died was identified as Wendell Samuel Chisolm, 49. Chisholm reportedly stole the stabbing victim's vehicle and refused to stop for deputies before leading them on the three-county chase. 

Sumter County Sheriff's Office reported the suspect fired several rounds at deputies from the vehicle, and there was return fire from one deputy who was fired upon. After his car was forced off the road and deputies approached the vehicle, they heard a gunshot, and it appeared Chisholm suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies and EMS performed lifesaving efforts, but Chisholm later died after being transported to an area hospital.

Sheriff Dennis expressed his support of his deputies.

“The actions of the personnel of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office prevented what could have been a much worse outcome. The actions of Wendell Chisolm not only caused very serious injuries to a Sumter County resident, but also put many citizens and law enforcement officers’ lives at risk by the decisions he made last night.”

Update, 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3: According to a news release from South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the incident is the 39th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2025. This is the first officer-involved shooting for Sumter County Sheriff’s Office this year. In 2024, there were 45 officer-involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office had no officer-involved shootings last year.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and South Carolina Highway Patrol have been requested to investigate the incident by Sumter County Sheriff's Office and Lee County Sheriff's Office, according to the release.

According to SLED, "SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors."

A suspect in a domestic disturbance Wednesday night was pronounced dead after he reportedly led Sumter deputies on a high-speed chase through Sumter, Kershaw and Lee counties and exchanged gunfire with them, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded about 6:13 p.m. to the incident on Wendemere Drive, where they found the victim severely stabbed. The victim was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey for treatment.

Deputies were told the suspect had fled in a white Hyundai, possibly heading toward Charleston. A short time later, deputies spotted the vehicle near Queen’s Chapel and Old Camden Highway and attempted a traffic stop.
The suspect refused to stop and fled, firing shots at a deputy during the pursuit. The deputy returned fire, according to the sheriff's office.

The chase continued through Sumter and Kershaw counties and northbound on Highway 15 into Lee County, where
the suspect’s vehicle left the road and crashed on Ashwood School Road.

The suspect was transported by ambulance to Prisma Health Tuomey suffering from a gunshot wound and later was pronounced deceased.

No deputies were struck by gunfire, though one deputy sustained an ankle injury and was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey. He is expected to recover and return to duty soon.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis said he was grateful no citizens were injured during the incident.

“The suspect attempted to kill someone this afternoon and then attempted to kill one of our deputies. I am grateful he failed in both attempts," Dennis said.

The sheriff also thanked deputies for the professional way they handled this dangerous situation and brought it to a close.

The condition of the stabbing victim has not been released.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.