Two U.S. Marshals shot, suspect kills self in Irmo-area SC fugitive hunt

Two South Carolina deputy U.S. marshals were shot and a suspect has died in a Friday morning incident at a motel outside Columbia near the intersection of Interstate 26 and Broad River Road extended, law enforcement officials said.

”Both deputy marshals are in stable condition and sustained non-life threatening injuries,” said a statement released Friday afternoon by Karrie Holden, supervisory deputy U.S. marshal in South Carolina.

The incident involved a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force team that had local officers on it.

The task force was searching for George Curtis, a Georgia fugitive, who was wanted by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in Augusta, Ga., for child rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and two counts of child molestation, Holden said.

During the arrest, Curtis opened fire on task force members and during the exchange of gunfire, two deputy U.S. marshals were wounded,” Holden said

Curtis, whose age news reports said was 78, was pronounced dead at the scene from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound, Holden said..

A law enforcement source told The State newspaper that Curtis died after jumping out a window and then turning his weapon upon himself.

The incident took place at an Extended Stay America Hotel near Lake Murray Boulevard and also near Irmo, according to news reports. Law enforcement did not disclose how they located Curtis at the hotel.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating and will likely issue a release.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

This story was originally published September 29, 2023 at 10:20 AM.