SCSO: Attempted murder led to high-speed chase, exchange of gunfire
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - Shown is a Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Philadelphia Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 seeking to stop a city law banning officers from pulling over drivers for low-level offenses from going into effect saying the law illegally pre-empts existing state laws on traffic violations. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– SCSO says an attempted murder led to a high-speed chase and an exchange of gunfire.
At about 6:13 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance on Wendemere Drive, where they found a victim who had been severely stabbed.
The victim was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey for treatment.
Deputies were told the suspect had fled in a white Hyundai, possibly heading toward Charleston.
It was reported that the alleged offender, Wendell Samuel Chisolm, stole the victim’s car and her firearm and left the home.
A short time later, deputies spotted the vehicle near Queen’s Chapel and Old Camden Highway and attempted a traffic stop, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators say the suspect refused to stop, before firing shots at a deputy during the pursuit.
During the pursuit, the deputy returned fire.
The chase continued through Sumter and Kershaw counties and northbound on Highway 15 into Lee County, where the suspect’s vehicle left the road and crashed into a ditch on Ashwood School Road.
SCSO says deputies approached the vehicle, and another shot was heard.
It appeared to deputies that the suspect had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The suspect was taken by ambulance to Prisma Health Tuomey suffering from a gunshot wound and was later pronounced deceased.
The sheriff’s office says no deputies were struck by gunfire, though one deputy sustained an ankle injury and was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey.
He is expected to recover and return to duty soon.
“The suspect attempted to kill someone this afternoon and then attempted to kill one of our deputies. I am grateful he failed in both attempts,” says Sheriff Anthony Dennis.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the South Carolina Highway Patrol have been requested to investigate the incident.
