SC sheriff: Deputies shot man who fired into home of girlfriend, child, grandmother
A man was wounded during a “volatile situation” Friday night when deputies tried to arrest him after a woman was assaulted, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said.
Following an exchange of bullets, paramedics took Joshua James Hendricks III to the hospital where he remained Saturday morning. When Hendricks is discharged he will be charged with assault on his estranged girlfriend, firing at law enforcement officers and possibly other offenses, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
About 10 p.m. Friday, a resident of the Hanover neighborhood in the Indian Land community heard a gun going off at a neighbor’s house. Deputies rushed to 1022 Eagles Nest Lane where the shooting happened.
Hendricks had shown up at his estranged girlfriend’s home where she, her 2-year-son and her mother lived. A fight started and Hendricks armed with a handgun, assaulted his ex-girlfriend and left the house momentarily, the Sheriff’s Office said. The girlfriend locked him out, and Hendricks shot through the door and broke in, a deputy’s report said.
As they arrived deputies could hear a fight inside the home, the report said. The ex-girlfriend, her son and the grandmother were able to slip outside without Hendricks noticing. The deputies entered the house to arrest Hendricks, and as they neared him, he opened fire on them, the Sheriff’s Office said. The deputies shot back and struck Hendricks.
“His injuries are to his extremities and he was conscious, alert, and responsive at the scene,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Doug Barfield said in a release. His wounds are not life threatening.
The ex-girlfriend was injured in the assault and treated by paramedics at the scene. The child and grandmother were not hurt. No deputies were shot during the exchange of fire.
“We responded to a very volatile situation last night,” Sheriff Barry Faile said in the statement. “This incident occurred in a densely populated subdivision. I applaud the victim and her mother for getting themselves and the child out of harm’s way, and I am thankful neither they nor any bystanders were seriously injured. I am also thankful our officers were not injured.
“From everything I know about this incident,” he continued, “our deputies responded appropriately according to our policies and procedures and their training and did an exemplary job bringing this matter to a conclusion without harm to innocent parties.”
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the police shooting element of the incident. The deputies who fired their weapons are on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
The incident involving an estranged partner is the second in York and Lancaster counties in a week.
On Jan. 17, Christopher Taylor of Rock Hill shot and killed his estranged spouse, Julie Taylor, at her York County home, police say.
Christopher Taylor was barred from his wife’s residence by a York County Family Court judge’s order signed two days before the killing.
Christopher Taylor was not at the house when police arrived but was captured shortly afterward and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
This story was originally published January 25, 2020 at 3:55 PM.