Aiken officer-involved shooting sends suspect to hospital

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Aiken Department of Public Safety officers shot a suspect, sending him to a hospital after he confronted an officer on Tuesday morning, according to authorities.

Around 1:45 a.m., the officer was approached by a man at a gas station at the corner of Whiskey Road and East Pine Log Road, authorities say.

The man was later identified as Richard Dale McCarty, 30, of North Augusta, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

After a short conversation between McCarty and the officer, McCarty got into his vehicle and rammed the officer’s patrol vehicle, according to SLED.

The crash disabled both vehicles.

McCarty got out of the passenger’s side window of his vehicle and chased the officer with a knife, according to SLED.

Two more Aiken officers responded to help the officer who was being chased.

McCarty presented the knife and the responding officers shot him, according to SLED. McCarty was taken to a hospital for treatment for several injuries that were not life-threatening.

He was arrested Thursday after being released from the hospital.

No officers were injured. SLED charged McCarty with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

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