Investigators say, the armed suspect wounded when his gun went off during a traffic stop by Greenville County deputies Tuesday night was just 16 years old. The teenager is said to be recovering from a non-life-threatening bullet wound.
The Sheriff's Office statement says, the gun fired when one of the deputies who had pulled the car over on Wade Hampton Boulevard spotted the weapon and -- in the words of the media release - "tried to secure it."
SLED is investigating, standard procedure on any law enforcement-involved shooting incident. The wounded teen's name won't be released unless he goes to trial as an adult. He's facing charges of unlawful possession of a pistol under the age of eighteen, unlawful carrying of a firearm and possession of a weapon in a violent crime. He's also charged with trafficking fentanyl.
Deputies say it was among drugs found in the vehicle. Another suspect, 20 year old Joselito Leopard-Rivera, is also charged with drug trafficking. No charges have been fled against the driver.
