SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Greenville County
Thursday, Jun 5, 2025
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Greenville County. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office requested the SLED investigation.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office to serve active bench warrants for Attempted Murder and Kidnapping on Johnny Collins, 51, in Greer, SC. Greenville County deputies located Collins near Highway 14 and West Gap Creek Road. Collins fled from deputies and ran into a wooded area on Cannon Road. Deputies encountered Collins, who was armed with a hatchet. Collins moved toward deputies, raised the hatchet, and deputies shot Collins. Collins was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
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 Greenville County is the 22nd officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2025. This is the 5th officer involved shooting for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2024, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.
The Greenville County Sherriff’s Office had 7 officer involved shootings last year.
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For media inquiries, please email SLED’s Public Information Office: pio@sled.sc.gov.
