SLED investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Laurens County (Oct., 14, 2024)
Monday, Oct 14, 2024
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Laurens County.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO)notified the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) that a wanted person may be in the Gray Court area following a reported kidnapping and vehicle chase in Spartanburg. LCSO received a call for a welfare check regarding an abandoned vehicle with children inside. LCSO deputies located the vehicle and found it matching the description provided by the SCSO. Two children were inside the vehicle. Deputies encountered an armed man. The man was identified as Antonio Sullivan, 37. During the encounter with Sullivan, a Laurens County deputy shot him. Sullivan was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured. The children found in the car were unharmed and reunited with their mother. SLED was requested to investigate by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
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.
The incident in Laurens County was the 35th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 3rd officer involved shooting for the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office had 2 officer involved shootings last year.
