The S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has charged 31-year-old Calvin Lorenzo Middleton, III of St. Stephen, S.C. with three counts of attempted murder in connection with an officer-involved shooting that took place in Berkeley County early Friday.
Additional charges are likely to be filed against him in connection with the case, we’re told.
Middleton was involved in a domestic dispute involving a firearm at 1055 Pine Tree Drive in St. Stephen early Friday morning, but fled the scene before law enforcement officers arrived at the residence.
Berkeley County sheriff’s deputy Cody Gooch pulled Middleton over about a quarter of a mile down the road after local law enforcement agencies were provided with a description of the vehicle in which he was traveling.
Upon exiting the vehicle, Middleton fired at deputies – prompting them to return fire, hitting him at least four times. Gooch was also wounded in the shooting, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Middleton is expected to recover from his wounds, too, although he’s now facing some serious time behind bars.
Arrest records show Middleton was convicted in 2005 of unlawfully carrying a weapon. He was sentenced to six months of probation in connection with that charge. An underage drinking citation and simple possession of marijuana charge are also on his record.
As a matter of protocol, SLED handles all investigations into officer-involved shootings in South Carolina and forwards its findings to the solicitor with jurisdiction over the county where the shooting took place. In this case, that would be S.C. ninth circuit solicitor Scarlett Wilson.
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