Darkness shattered by gunfire. A Greenville, South Carolina police officer found himself the target of a calculated ambush, a terrifying moment captured on chilling surveillance footage. The attack unfolded swiftly, a vehicle silently pulling alongside his patrol car, initiating a sequence of events that would leave the officer wounded and the suspect dead.
The video reveals a stark scene: a vehicle gliding into a parking lot, stopping directly beside the officer’s driver’s side window. Then, without warning, flashes erupt in the night as the suspect unleashed a barrage of gunfire. The assailant immediately fled, leaving the officer critically injured within the confines of his patrol car.
Emergency services raced to the scene, transporting the wounded officer to a local hospital. Thankfully, he has since been released, a testament to the swift medical attention he received. But the incident didn’t end there; a manhunt was immediately launched to locate the perpetrator.
Deputies quickly identified the suspect’s vehicle, triggering a tense and dangerous pursuit. Multiple exchanges of gunfire punctuated the chase, escalating the danger for both law enforcement and the public. The pursuit culminated in a devastating crash, and within the wreckage, authorities discovered the suspect deceased.
The suspect was identified as 42-year-old David William Lane. Sheriff Hobart Lewis described the attack as a deliberate “ambush-style” assault on a Greenville city officer, a chilling assessment of the calculated nature of the violence.
Investigators soon uncovered a disturbing pattern of concerning behavior. Prior to the ambush, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had received multiple complaints regarding Lane’s unsettling comments and actions. Neighbors had voiced their anxieties on January 1st and 2nd, reporting a growing sense of unease.
Deputies responded to each complaint, meticulously investigating the reports. While the behavior was deemed concerning, it didn’t immediately meet the legal threshold for an arrest warrant. However, recognizing the potential for escalation, proactive measures were taken to enhance security.
Administrators at the Hunting Downs apartment complex, where Lane resided, collaborated with deputies to hire off-duty sheriff’s deputies for added security. This detail, initiated on January 8th, aimed to provide a safer environment for residents, a precaution born from growing apprehension.
A mother living at the complex shared unsettling security footage showing Lane approaching her daughter’s apartment earlier in the month, visibly armed with a firearm. She revealed that Lane had been stalking her daughter and other residents, making explicit and threatening statements that instilled fear.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has taken the lead in investigating the ambush, at the request of both the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. They are committed to a thorough and independent investigation, meticulously gathering evidence and conducting interviews.
The investigation will encompass comprehensive forensic testing and detailed witness statements, ensuring a complete understanding of the events leading up to the attack. SLED will then submit their findings to prosecutors, seeking justice for the officer and answers for the community.
This incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in South Carolina this year, and the first for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. In the previous year, the state recorded a total of 45 officer-involved shootings, seven of which involved deputies from the sheriff’s office, highlighting the ever-present dangers faced by law enforcement.
