Officer-Involved Shooting Sends 2 to Hospital

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – A Columbia police officer is forced to draw his weapon and fire. That’s according to a spokesperson for the department, Jennifer Timmons. The incident happened Thursday afternoon on the northside of the city in the 4300 block of Woodridge Drive. A group was reportedly fighting outside a home. When the responding officer arrived, Timmons says it’s believed he was hit in the head with an unknown object. The officer allegedly tried to subdue the suspect, using his baton and pepper spray, but without success. So, Timmons says he shot the suspect in the lower body. That individual and the officer were both taken to the hospital. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. As part of protocol, SLED is now investigating the incident.