Vermont man in custody following six-hour standoff with police

A Vermont man is now in custody after he was involved in a six-hour standoff with Kershaw County sheriff’s deputies and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agents Friday Morning.

Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews said 43-year-old Shane Allen, whose last known address is in Vermont, was taken into custody following the standoff, which stemmed from an earlier domestic altercation.

Matthews said deputies responded to a residence in the 1400 block of Davis Street in Camden in reference to a shots-fired call at 2 a.m. When deputies arrived, Matthews said deputies met with a female victim who said Allen, who had been staying with her, fired three times at her before fleeing the scene.

At about 3:30 a.m., deputies were dispatched back out to the residence after the victim called law enforcement notifying them that Allen had returned to the home and was armed, Matthews said. The victim was able to escape from the home.

After repeated attempts to coax Allen out of the home, Matthews said SLED was requested to come to the scene with an armored vehicle and their tactical response team. Allen then began firing several rounds at officers surrounding the home, but no one was injured, Matthews said.

At one point, Allen, who has an extensive criminal record, told negotiators that he was not going back to prison, Matthews said.

Allen had been previously arrested in Texas and Florida for escape from custody, grand larceny, probation violations, attempt to elude police, driving under the influence, domestic assault, violation of conditions of release, unauthorized use of a vehicle, several counts of aggravated battery of a police officer, battery, several counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, vehicle theft, assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Matthews said.

After hearing what sounded like a muffled gunshot, a SLED robot was sent into the home to attempt to locate Allen, but was unsuccessful, Matthews said.

A SLED tactical team then made entry into the home, located Allen and took him into custody without further incident, Matthews said. Allen was taken to a local hospital to get examined for exposure to tear gas.

Matthews said Allen has been charged with attempted murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

Allen has been transported to the Kershaw County Detention Center where he will be held pending a bond hearing, Matthews said.

Matthews said Kershaw County investigators will also be contacting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to determine if federal charges can be applied in the investigation, because Allen is a convicted felon and prohibited from carrying a firearm.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 8:46 AM.