Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Lexington County.
Deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department went to a home in West Columbia Wednesday morning to serve arrest warrants for Shavon Marquise Wright, 29. When deputies arrived, an armed male subject, later identified as Wright, fired a gun, and barricaded himself inside. During a standoff, there was an exchange of gunfire from both Wright and deputies. Wright was later pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time.
SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be
summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Lexington County was the 19th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department this year.
In 2022, there were 32 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department had 1 officer involved shooting last year.