A suspect was shot after firing at deputies in the Midlands, early Tuesday morning. “If you point a gun and shoot at our deputies, we’re gonna shoot back." That was the message from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Around 1 AM, deputies attempted to pull over a vehicle for excessive speeding. The driver took off, leading deputies on a chase before running off the road.
At a press conference Tuesday, Sheriff Lott played dashcam video showing the suspect firing at deputies as they approached the vehicle. Four deputies returned fire, hitting the suspect, 23 year old Renardo Tyson.
According to Lott, Tyson is in the hospital and is expected to survive. Deputies later learned the gun used in the shooting had been reported stolen out of Columbia. Five bullet holes were found in one of the patrol vehicles.
Tyson is now facing multiple charges, including four counts of attempted murder. He was previously arrested in November 2022 for possession of a stolen pistol and marijuana.
The incident remains under investigation.