Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting which occurred on Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Florence County.
A Florence County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputy attempted a traffic stop on Palmetto Street. The vehicle did not stop and eventually crashed in front of a home on East National Cemetery Road. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as William Dawayne Rankin, 43, fled into the home. The FCSO deputy and FCSO K9 pursued Rankin into the home, where they encountered Rankin and a second individual. The FCSO K9 bit onto the other person, who was not involved in the vehicle pursuit. The FCSO deputy shot Rankin. Rankin was taken to the hospital where he later died. The other person was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained from the FCSO K9. The deputy was not injured.
Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye requested SLED investigate.
This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time. SLED conducts law enforcement officer involved shooting (OIS) investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. When requested to investigate an OIS, SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances. SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter. Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed. Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.
The incident in Florence County was the 18th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024. This is the 1st officer involved shooting for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office this year.
In 2023, there were 43 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office had no officer involved shootings last year.
