Saturday, Jan. 27, 2012

AIKEN, S.C. -- Aiken Chief of Public Safety Charles Barranco has announced that law enforcement officer Master Cpl. Sandy Rogers died during a shooting Saturday morning.

Rogers was a 27-year veteran of law enforcement.

The suspect in the shooting, Joshua Jones, is in custody. He is linked to another shooting in Richmond County that killed 21-year-old Cayce Vice on Saturday morning. Vice was five weeks pregnant.

Barranco said Jones will be charged with murder and the possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

A resident contacted the Aiken Department of Public Safety in reference to a suspicious vehicle at Eustis Park around 7:30 a.m.

Barranco said Rogers arrived on scene, an altercation ensued and she was shot.

She was then was transported to Aiken Regional Medical Centers, where she died from her injuries.

The Aiken Department of Public Safety released this statement:
"It is with profound sadness I must report to the Citizens of Aiken, another officer has been murdered in the line of duty in Aiken this morning. Master Corporal Sandra E. Rogers, 49 of Aiken, was gunned down responding to a call from a concerned citizen of suspicious activity at Eustis Park just after 7:30 a.m.

Rogers has been employed by the City of Aiken since 1984.

Master Cpl. Rogers was an invaluable street cop who exemplified the model of a Public Safety Officer. Master Cpl. Rogers was a highly skilled investigator and senior patrol officer on her shift.

Please keep the Rogers family and Aiken Public Safety in your prayers as once again we deal with this tragic loss.

We received assistance from Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, North Augusta Public Safety, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, Aiken County Solicitors Office, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office.

The State Law Enforcement Division has taken over the investigation into the shooting incident as standard protocol with an officer involved shooting.

Please note that all information related to the criminal investigation, any suspects, arrests, or criminal charges related to the death of Master Cpl. Rogers should be referred to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division."

Rogers' death is the third in the area since October, when Deputy J.D. Paugh was gunned down. Aiken Officer Scott Richardson died following a shooting in December.