SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Greenville County

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Greenville County. 

After finishing an unrelated traffic stop early Friday morning, a Greenville County deputy encountered a man armed with a gun walking along the intersection of Page Drive and White Horse Road in Greenville County. The man was later identified as Walter Jason Smith, 42. Smith pointed the gun at the deputy in the patrol car and there was an exchange of gunfire. Smith ran into a nearby field. A second Greenville County deputy responded to the scene. There was another exchange of gunfire between deputies and Smith. A deputy was shot in the shoulder, and Smith was shot in the leg. The deputy and Smith were taken to the hospital for treatment. The deputy has been released and is in recovery. SLED was requested to investigate by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. 

SLED charged Smith with two counts of Attempted Murder, Possession of Firearm or Ammunition by Person Convicted of Violent Offense, and Possession of Weapon During Violent Crime. More details can be found in the attached arrest warrants. When Smith is discharged from the hospital, he will be booked into the Greenville County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 13th Circuit Solicitor’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 Greenville County is the 26th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026.              

This is the 2nd officer involved shooting for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year. 

In 2025, there were 45 officer involved shootings in South Carolina.

The Greenville County Sheriff’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

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