Police officers in South Carolina shot and killed a man after he broke into his ex-wife's home, killed her, drove his car through her garage door and fired at police during a chase early Wednesday morning. authorities said.
One deputy was wounded in the shooting in Lexington, but is expected to survive, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.
Officers were called to the home of Jamal Walker's ex-wife around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday when a 911 caller said someone was trying to break into the home, Koon said at a news conference.
The officers heard gunshots and broke down the door. One deputy was hit by gunfire and the rest retreated, the sheriff said.
Lexington police and state police joined officers in pursuit of Walker, who fired at officers as he tried to escape, according to Koon.
The officers flattened the vehicle's tires and Walker exited the car shooting at the officers. who responded and killed him, the sheriff said.
Walker, 39, and his wife had been divorced for about a year. His 9-year-old son was in the house, but he was not seriously injured, said Koon, who visited the boy.
“Her world was turned upside down. She doesn't even know. We asked him who we could call and he said, 'Call my grandpa, call my grandpa,'” Koon said.
Deputies had been called to the home recently for harassing phone calls, but the sheriff said he didn't know why things got so violent Wednesday.
