An Aiken County deputy is under investigation after the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist after he sped away from deputies and led them on a chase early Saturday morning.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office has called in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to conduct the investigation, according to a news release.
Around 12:43 a.m. May 21, a deputy initiated a traffic stop with Harley Davidson motorcycle by signaling with his overhead blue lights on East Pine Long near Trail Wood Avenue, the report said.
A white male driving the motorcycle never stopped. Instead, he accelerated away from the
deputy, who pursued the motorcyclist down Whiskey Road towards New Ellenton. The
chase continued toward Beech Island on U.S. Hwy. 278, to Interstate 520 and onto Interstate 20
East.
“The pursuit ended when the rider slowed and veered towards the shoulder of the interstate causing him to lose control of the motorcycle in the grass. Shots were fired during a confrontation with the rider,” according to Capt. Eric Abdullah.
Deputies rendered aid to the rider. Aiken County EMS was called to the scene where he was pronounced dead.
This investigation is ongoing and being handled by SLED and the Aiken County Coroner’s Office. There were no other injuries reported. No names have been released.
