SLED investigating officer-involved shooting in Irmo; one suspect wounded

State Law Enforcement Division officials are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Irmo in which one suspect was wounded Wednesday, according to officials.

The shooting occurred in what town officials say was a response by two unidentified officers to calls for help in a domestic disturbance in the New Friarsgate neighborhood about 1 a.m.

Michael Jones, 57, is receiving medical care after being shot an undisclosed number of times, officials said. His condition was not known early Wednesday night.

It’s the first officer-involved shooting by an Irmo police officer in 10 years, according to SLED records.

Irmo is among many law enforcement agencies that call in SLED to investigate officer-involved shootings. Both officers – one with more than 10 years’ experience on the town police force, the other with two – were placed on paid administrative leave while SLED investigates, as is standard practice.

The two officers went to a home in the 200 block of Wychwood Road after members of Jones’ family called for help amid an argument with grandson Bobby Wilson, 21, Irmo Police Chief Joe Nates said.

Wilson and other family members met the officers outside while Jones remained alone in a bedroom in the home, Nates said.

Jones appeared to be carrying a rifle when officers went inside to check on him, Nates said, and refused to comply with numerous requests to drop the rifle.

Both Irmo officers opened fire when Jones raised the weapon, striking him in the chest, SLED spokesman Thom Berry said.

Jones’ family had moved into the rental home a week before the shooting, Nates said.

Town officials expressed confidence that both officers acted properly.

“Everything seems to have been done by the book,“ Mayor Hardy King said.

All involved in the incident are white, officials said.

It’s the 24th officer-involved shooting so far this year compared to 25 officer-involved shootings through the same time period in 2015, Berry said.

There were a total of 39 officer-involved shooting cases that SLED officials investigated in 2014.

Previous coverage on officer-involved shootings:

S.C. Officers exonerated in more than 200 shootings

S.C. police shot at 43 suspects in 2014, killing 18 of them

When officers shoot in SC, who’s watching?

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 8:51 AM.