‘We’ve lost a friend’
Police in shock after officer shot dead, six others wounded
SEVEN police officers were shot, one fatally, during a stand-off at a home in South Carolina.
Police responding to the shooting tragedy at Florence have tearfully explained what happened to their slain colleague, who was shot while serving a warrant at the home.
Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler told a press conference the officer, identified as Terrence Carraway, 52, of Darlington, was a dear friend.
“Today we lost a friend of mine, an officer I’ve known for 30 years,” he said.
“We lost the bravest police officer we have known.”
Both Heidler and Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone had tears in their eyes as they spoke to reporters about Mr Darlington, who had just celebrated 30 years as a police officer in the city.
Major Mike Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office said about 4pm (local time) officers tried to serve a search warrant at a home on Hoffmeyer Rd, Florence when the suspect opened fire on officers.
He said the suspect then continued to fire on assisting officers as they arrived at the scene. The suspect barricaded himself inside the home with children inside.
The children are now safe and the suspect is in custody receiving treatment in hospital after surrendering during negotiations.
Major Nunn described the incident as a “difficult day for us.”
Another sheriff at the press conference cried as he said: “this information has hit home”.
“Officers put their life on the line every day, you never know when you leave home if you’re gonna return,” he said.
Chief Heidler urged the community to pray for the injured officers: “They were responding to a scene where they knew their brothers and sisters were in need.”
Police claim the assisting officers were unaware of the firepower the suspect had and had arrived at the scene assuming it was a random search warrant.
Two officers injured in the shooting are said to be “touch and go”.
Police audio recorded first responders calling in the incident, warning assisting officers ahead of arrival.
On the call a responder is heard saying: “Officer down at this time. The suspect was still firing. Use precaution.”
Earlier the Florence County Sheriff’s Office confirmed three county deputies and two city officers had been shot at the Vintage Place subdivision, off Hoffmeyer Rd, Florence.
A county coroner confirmed one city police officer had died.
President Donald Trump tweeted he was “forever grateful for what our law enforcement officers do”.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has called the incident “simply devastating news”.
Florence is located in South Carolina’s northeastern corner. It is home to roughly 37,000 people.