1 officer killed, 6 others injured in S.C. standoff

FLORENCE, S.C. — Seven South Carolina law enforcement officers were shot, one fatally, in a confrontation with a suspect who held children hostage in a home and fired on deputies, officials said. The suspect was taken into custody after a two-hour standoff.

Spokesman John Wukela in the city of Florence, where the deadly encounter occurred, gave an updated total Wednesday evening of officers felled by gunfire, speaking at a news conference.

Maj. Mike Nunn, with the Florence County sheriff’s office, said officers were serving a warrant when the suspect began shooting, wounding three deputies. The deputies had to be removed using an armored vehicle.

Then, four Florence police officers were shot while responding to the initial gunfire, said Allen Heidler, the Florence police chief. It was one of Heidler’s officers who was killed during the confrontation.

“I want you to pray for the family who lost the bravest police officer I have ever known,” Heidler said, visibly overcome by emotion at the news conference.

Wukela identified the fallen officer as Terrence Carraway. Carraway, 52, had just celebrated 30 years as a police officer in the city, Wukela said.

Nunn said the suspect held off police for two hours — holding children hostage in his home — before he eventually was taken into custody. He would not release the suspect’s name or condition, and other details were not immediately disclosed.

Condolences and outpourings of support rolled in after news of the shooting spread.

In a tweet Wednesday, President Donald Trump said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence Police Department tonight, in South Carolina.”

“We are forever grateful for what our Law Enforcement Officers do 24/7/365,” he added.

“This is simply devastating news from Florence,” Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted. “The selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement is real, just like the power of prayer is real.”

Thom Berry, a spokesman for the State Law Enforcement Division, said the agency had sent crime scene technicians to assist officials in Florence but by late Wednesday it had not been requested to help with any investigation.

Authorities said the shootings happened in Vintage Place, an upscale neighborhood.

AP/SEAN RAYFORD A police officer in Florence, S.C., directs traffic around the area Wednesday where a standoff with a man holding children hostage left one law enforcement officer dead and six more wounded.