Man who struck deputy with car and was shot to death identified

Officials released the name of a man who died after a deputy shot and killed him Monday morning.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said Bryan N. Byrd, 43, of Columbia was shot in the upper body around 7 a.m. Monday on the 100 block of Glenda Court in Lexington.

The autopsy performed Tuesday morning revealed Byrd died from three gunshot wounds.

A deputy was responding to a report of a suspicious person and vehicle on the dirt road when he found Byrd sleeping in a parked car beside a home, officials said.

The deputy reportedly spoke to the suspect then stepped back and “found himself right in front of the vehicle” while Byrd attempted to flee.

Byrd then struck the officer’s knees with the vehicle while the deputy discharged his firearm, striking him several times.

The officer was transported to an area hospital and released Monday.

Capt. Adam Myrick said the sheriff’s department has no plans to release the name of the deputy involved.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division records indicate Byrd had several convictions starting in 1990, including strong armed robbery, domestic violence, possession of marijuana and cocaine, grand larceny and common law robbery.

He also had several vehicle-related convictions, including DUI, driving while privilege of driving suspended and failure to stop for a blue light.

The incident remains under investigation by the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, SLED and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Man who struck deputy with car and was shot to death identified."