Off-duty Columbia police officer was shot at after traffic collision

A man accused of shooting at an off-duty Columbia Police Department officer has been arrested and charged.

Anthony Legette is accused of shooting at Wilbert Jones, Jr., who has been in the North Region for nearly two years.

Jones was not injured in the incident.

Legette, 33, has been charged Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime, Possession of a Weapon by Person Convicted of a Violent Felony, and Drinking Alcohol in Public.

Shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, Jones was traveling in his personal vehicle, when he reported being hit by a car at the intersection of Rosewood Drive and South Kilbourne Road, according to the police.

The driver, later identified as Legette, allegedly left the scene of the collision, police said. While on the phone with 911, Jones followed in an attempt to note the vehicle’s tag information.

Legette stopped, and Jones approached, identifying himself as a CPD officer and showed his credentials, police said.

Legette is accused of attempting to grab something in his waistline, according to police, adding Jones pulled out his city-issued gun and demanded that Jones display his hands as a safety precaution.

At that time, Legette refused police commands and drove towards Walker Street and Jones followed him to an apartment complex located at 3209 Wilmont Avenue, according to police. It was there that Legette is accused of brandishing a gun and shooting at Jones, who was outside of his vehicle.

Legette then went inside of an apartment and refused to come out, said police. SWAT and CPD K-9 teams were called to the scene, executed a search warrant and found Legette inside a residence and took him into custody.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook says, “We are very fortunate that this incident did not result in injury or worse,” Columbia Police Department Chief Skip Holbrook said in a news release. “It should also be a reminder to us all that normal circumstances can change at a moment’s notice.”

The CPD reported that Legette has a lengthy criminal history, and he remains at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention under a $250,000 bond.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the initial collision.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Off-duty Columbia police officer was shot at after traffic collision."