Patient Shot by an Officer at Lexington SC Hospital
A Disturbing Incident at Lexington Hospital
A patient at Lexington Medical Center, South Carolina, was shot by an on-duty officer on August 2nd. As per the facts of the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the patient was reportedly armed with a handgun in the hospital’s emergency department at the time of the incident.
Patient Shooting Incident Under Investigation
SLED is currently investigating the patient shooting situation in-depth. The male patient incurred non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the shooting. An officer from the Lexington Medical Center Public Safety department reportedly fired the shot when he happened upon the armed patient. Aside from the gunshot, a stun gun was also deployed during the encounter.
Minimal Information Released by the Hospital
Lexington Medical Center issued a public statement following the incident. Although the statement gave few particulars about the events leading up to the shooting, the hospital clarified that its employees remained unharmed. They refrained from offering additional information, citing the ongoing investigation.
SLED had also stated that its intent to conduct a “thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances.”
Increased Officer-Involved Shootings in South Carolina
This incident marks the 29th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in the present year. The rising numbers display a concerning trend, considering that South Carolina recorded 43 officer-involved shootings just in the previous year, 2023.
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Other recent incidents arising from Lexington County include a woman sentenced to 12 years for child abuse at a daycare. Reportedly, she was an employee at Windsor Academy Child Development Center. Lexington County also saw a federal grand jury charge brought upon a county resident for allegedly presiding over a Syrian prison where physical abuse of inmates took place. The defendant was then accused of lying to U.S. immigration authorities about the situation.
In other news, the former Marion Street high-rise apartments have been sold to a developer connected to a firm known for converting apartments into hotels. Meanwhile, South Lake Elementary, one of Lexington County’s newest schools, has opened its doors for the first academic year to over 450 enrolled students. The establishment of the school was in response to the increasing population in Lexington County.
