Questions remain in shootout that injured officers, killed suspect

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC – Many questions remain in the shooting that killed a suspect and injured two officers early Tuesday morning.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher identified the man killed as Demetrius Shelley Bryant, 21, of Columbia. Cayce officials have refused to release the names of the officers involved.

One officer remains hospitalized after being wounded by gunfire, said Sgt. Evan Antley with the Cayce Department of Public Safety. The officer’s injuries are not life threatening, the coroner reported Tuesday afternoon.

The other officer also was injured during the struggle, Antley said. That officer was treated and released, Cayce spokeswoman Ashley Hunter said Tuesday.

Hunter said Bryant opened fire on the officers and they shot back. Bryant was struck twice in the upper body, according to the coroner’s release.

Though officials say the incident was “drug-related,” they declined to specify what that means.

As is usual for shootings involving officers, the State Law Enforcement Division is investigating.

“When (Chief Charles McNair) determines it’s an appropriate time – after he speaks with SLED and the investigation is moving along – whenever it’s appropriate, we’re going to release what we can,” Antley said.

The most recent shooting involving Cayce police was in July 2013, according to SLED records.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Questions remain in shootout that injured officers, killed suspect."