Armed man escaped burglary, but not unscathed, SC cops say. It’s why he got caught

An armed man suspected of recently breaking into a South Carolina home at night initially got away from law enforcement officers, but ultimately was arrested after one of his relatives called 911, according to the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.

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The family member wasn’t turning in the 21-year-old, but was calling for emergency medical assistance because the suspected burglar accidentally shot himself during his getaway, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

At about 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 12, deputies and officers with the Elgin Police Department responded to a report of a burglary at a home in the 1600 block of Smyrna Road in Elgin, according to the release.

The suspect forced his way into the home, awakening the occupants, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators later determined that the flashlight used by the suspect was mounted to his gun, meaning the weapon was pointed directly at the residents when he illuminated them before leaving on foot, according to the release.

Deputies and officers arrived in the area within minutes and used specialized K-9 officers and drone teams to track the wanted man, the sheriff’s office said.

While attempting to escape law enforcement officers, the suspect accidentally shot himself in the leg, according to the release. Nearby deputies reported hearing the single gunshot from a distance during the search, the sheriff’s office said.

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About 45 minutes after the initial burglary incident, a family member of the suspect called 911 from a McGee Street home to request aid for his gunshot wound, according to the release. That’s about a third of a mile from the site of the armed burglary.

Responding officers took the suspect into custody, then transported him to a local hospital for medical treatment, the sheriff’s office said. Since then, the 21-year-old was medically cleared and transferred to the Kershaw County Detention Center, according to the release.

No other injuries were reported.

The suspect has not been publicly identified and charges connected to both the home invasion and the direct threat to the victims is pending, the sheriff’s office said.

“The rapid response and seamless coordination between our K-9, drone, and patrol units placed immediate pressure on the suspect,” Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said in the release. “We are extremely grateful that the victims were unharmed during this dangerous confrontation.”