Man shot by CPD officers after short foot chase at Harbison area Wal Mart

Columbia, SC - A man that was thought to be the aggressor and an innocent bystander at a gas station were both shot during an incident at the Walmart on Bush River Road just inside Lexington County Wednesday afternoon.

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said that his officers received the call shortly before noon. People reported that a man with a gun was acting in a strange manner inside the Wal Mart.

At some point, the man left the store on foot followed closely by the police officers. He ran to a nearby Murphy’s gas station that is located in the parking area of that Wal Mart.

At the gas station, the man then confronted another person who was filling his car with gas. For some reason that has not been made clear, he shot that individual. He then opened fire on the two CPD officers that were on the scene. The police fired back, hitting the man at least once.

People began to spread word of the incident via social media almost immediately. Some even had pictures of the suspect as he fled the Wal Mart that they posted to Facebook and other sites. They also sent them to the media.

At this time, the conditions of the injured suspect and the innocent civilian that was shot have not been updated. The man faces a number of charges.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was on the scene assisting in this case. Columbia Police has taken the lead in this incident because the store is within the city limits. The officer involved shooting is being investigated by another agency.