A manhunt for a suspect in South Carolina ended in a violent shootout that left one officer injured and a police dog dead.
K-9 Mikka Conflict in Lee County A chaotic standoff ensued Friday afternoon with the suspect who shot and killed a McBee Police Department officer Thursday night.
According to Horry County Police, agents with the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Department (SLED) were dispatched to Lee County as part of a search for suspect Altson Modlin, 27, who is described as armed and dangerous.
McBee Police Chief Tim Knight said Moridin fired “more than 60 rounds” at officers. WPDE reported.
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A Lee County, South Carolina, patrol car was hit by gunfire and burst into flames late Thursday night during a standoff with a suspect in a fatal shooting of a McBee Police Department officer, killing police dog Mikka. (Horry County Police Department)
The shooting in Chesterfield County led to a multi-county manhunt and led to Modlin being found around 10 a.m., but a deadly shootout ensued, authorities said.
Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon said deputies were pursuing Modlin's vehicle when they were met with live fire from an assault rifle. News19 confirmed this.
Simon confirmed to WPDE that one of his officers suffered a bullet wound from shots fired at officers during the standoff.
Simon said his patrol car was hit by bullets and burned.
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Police across South Carolina were searching for suspect Alston Modlin, 27, after Officer McBee was shot during a traffic stop late Thursday night. (South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement)
“The car was actually hit by bullets. The car caught fire and burst into flames and as you know, she was unable to get out of the car,” Simon explained to News 19. “The officers were unable to get to the car and open the door because like I said, they were being forced. They couldn't get to the car.”
Sadly, officers were unable to reach police dog Mikka inside the vehicle due to the gunfire, and the dog died in the fire, Simon told WPDE.
“We are a small police department that must wear many hats, and we are extremely saddened by the loss of our police dog, Mikka, who was just as much a part of our team as our injured chief deputy,” Simon said in a statement.
The shooting prompted shelter-in-place orders and school lockdowns across the county, according to News19.
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Horry County Police in South Carolina continue to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Lee County that left one officer injured and a police dog dead. (Horry County Police Department Facebook)
Authorities said about 200 officers and 10 agencies were deployed to Lee County to help resolve the standoff.
“This is a senseless, despicable act that actually happened today. I'm sick of it. This is the eighth officer-involved shooting since I got here in 2010. This is just awful,” Simon said.
Simon added that the team is grateful for the support they have received from the community and fellow law enforcement agencies.
About 200 police officers and 10 agencies were in Lee County to help resolve the standoff. (iStock)
“We would like to thank Horry County for leading the investigation into this case, as well as all of our partners for their support and assistance, including the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), our colleagues from state and local sheriff's and police departments, and the ATF. We have received a lot of community support from near and far, and we thank all the people and agencies who have sent their prayers and cared about how we are doing.”
The Lee County Coroner's Office confirmed Modlin died and an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
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Horry County Police said the incident remains under investigation and they will continue to investigate shootings in Lee County at the request of relevant agencies.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Lee County Sheriff's Office and SLED for comment.
