Conway man seeks $1M after shootout with police. He was convicted of trying to kill officer
Body cam video used as evidence to convict a 20-year-old Conway man shows a shootout between him and the police officer.
Gunfire erupts between the suspect and officer, which shatters the windows of both persons’ vehicles. Seconds later in the video, a person can be seen on the ground.
Tywrell Jacob Alston was arrested and charged with attempted murder after the incident in December 2022. But before his case went to trial in March, he pleaded guilty Wednesday for shooting at Conway Police Detective Nicholas Contino.
Although the incident occurred two years ago, Alston filed a lawsuit against the Conway Police Department on Jan. 17, 2025, asking for $1 million in damages.
Alston claims Contino never gave commands for him “to freeze or stop” and never identified himself as an officer. Alston, who is representing himself, said in the suit that he was shot 10 times, causing him to have his left kidney removed and part of his colon and there are still bullet fragments in his body.
“The city has no comment on the pending litigation,” Conway city spokesperson June Wood said in an email.
What Alston claims happened
Alston’s lawsuit claims that he went to the gas station on Dec. 29, 2022, and then returned back to his Forest Loop home after leaving the station.
“Once I arrived home, I noticed a vehicle that was suspicious,” the lawsuit said. “I remember seeing the vehicle on the road towards my home. I didn’t know who the occupant of the vehicle was but I was in great fear of harm to my home and myself.”
Alston said that the situation escalated and claims that he was shot while standing and while on the ground.
The lawsuit said that Detective Contino followed him home in a gray Ford Taurus, pulling in behind his vehicle and blocking him in.
In addition to the monetary damages, Alston is also asking for the charges to be dismissed.
What Solicitor’s office says happened
Police attempted to pull over a Jeep Cherokee driven by Alston on Dec. 29, 2022, according to a release from the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. He kept driving for over a minute before pulling into his driveway along Forest Loop, the release said.
Alston, who was 18 at the time, then got out of the car and shot five times at a police cruiser driven by Detective Contino, according to the release. One round went through the vehicle’s open door and became lodged in the driver’s seat, while another broke the driver’s window.
Contino, who narrowly missed being shot, fired back at Alston. Multiple shots hit Alston, and the teenager was hospitalized. Contino was not injured, the release said.
It also was determined that Alston had THC and Etomidate in his system, as well as a blood alcohol content of .066 percent, the release said. The legal BAC limit in South Carolina for drivers over the age of 21 is .08 percent.
Because of the attempted murder charge, Alston will be ineligible for parole.
