COLUMBIA, SC – A Sheriff in South Carolina is alleging that his deputies were called to an area when someone dialed 911.
Instead of someone needing help, the deputies were met with gunfire in what seems to be an apparent attempt to kill officers.
Deputy Joseph Shannonhouse was the deputy that experienced injuries from the incident. He suffered from glass to the face and eye. He is recovering well. @wachfox pic.twitter.com/dnY1NjN6S5
— Sydni Edwards (@SydniSpeakstv) August 3, 2022
The Richland County Sheriff, Leon Lott, reported that his deputies received a 911 call in the Carriage Oaks area in the early morning hours by a man claiming he had heard a woman screaming for help.
Three deputies responded to the scene that was given by the 911 caller and made contact with a woman who told them that she was fine and there were no issues.
After finding no problem at the scene, the deputies began to leave and when they did so they were hit with a barrage of gunfire.
At least one of the rounds fired broke the passenger side window of one of the police vehicles and embedded in the dash of the car.
Deputy Joseph Shannonhouse, who was driving the vehicle that was hit, suffered injuries to his eyes as glass from the breaking window struck him in the eyes and face.
Deputy Shannonhouse was able to make an abrupt U-turn and get out of the line of fire. In all, Sheriff Lott reported there were over 15 rounds fired by the suspect.
Deputies called for further assistance as they could not determine where the shots were coming from. Sheriff Lot said:
“Deputies could not immediately determine where the rounds were coming from and they did not return fire. Instead, they established a perimeter and closed off the neighborhood.”
Lott tells us Deputy Shannonhouse started about a year ago, he had prior experience as a military police officer and had over 20 years of law enforcement experience. @wachfox pic.twitter.com/VsYVE0e2zQ
— Sydni Edwards (@SydniSpeakstv) August 3, 2022
Responding deputies arrived on the scene and began searching the area.
During that search, they discovered a deceased male in the residence next to the address given in the 911 call. Sheriff Lott believes that the male was the one who made the call and attacked his deputies before committing suicide.
Sheriff Lott identified the deceased male as 25-year-old Frederic Westfall who was found with a long rifle and tactical gear.
The Sheriff believes that Westfall is the one who called 911 and laid in wait until he had the opportunity to fire on the deputies in what he calls an “ambush.”
Frederic Westfall fired more than 15 times at Richland County Deputies. Deputy Joseph Shannonhouse was injured by glass shards from his car window, but wasn’t shot. @abc_columbia https://t.co/kPft08gK1u
— Lee Williams (@leewilliams93) August 3, 2022
Even though detectives with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office have been able to identify Westfall as the attacker, they reported they still have yet to figure out why he wanted to ambush the deputies. The Sheriff said:
“We are very lucky we didn’t have an officer killed in an ambush like the incidents that happened in Spartanburg and Cayce. It’s not because our shooter didn’t try, he certainly did.
These deputies have a dangerous job, and I am thankful they were able to go home to their families.”
Deputy Shannonhouse was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for his injuries. The Sheriff’s Office reported he is thankfully expected to make a full recovery.
Officer ambushed and shot in the face while engaging carjacker – yet plans to return to work immediately
MISSOURI CITY, TX – “She went down immediately. She took a bullet to her right side of the face, and it exited behind her right ear,” Missouri City Police Chief Michael Berezin said.
“After she was struck, she did not stay down and lay there to die. She struggled back to her feet to try to complete the mission until she physically couldn’t, and the other officers got there.”
Those were the chilling words spoken over the weekend after a vehicle pursuit in Missouri City left Officer Crystal Sepulveda in the hospital after an alleged carjacker shot her three times in an attempt to avoid capture.
Here is what we know about the incident that nearly cost the 29-year-old officer her life.
Saturday night, Sepulveda and other officers spotted a vehicle reported stolen on Northwest Harris County.