3 in custody after Rock Hill officer witnesses drive-by shooting near Winthrop campus
An alert was sent to all Winthrop University students and staff Friday afternoon after a Rock Hill police officer saw a drive-by shooting near the campus that led to a chase and crash, officials said.
The shooting was not connected to the Winthrop campus.
The alert sent out after 4 p.m. said a man sought by Rock Hill police was near the campus north of downtown Rock Hill and had last been seen near the intersection of Eden Terrace and Charlotte Avenue, according to a copy of the alert provided to The Herald by Winthrop officials.
“WU Alert: Shooting suspect in vicinity of campus ... Male, possibly in gray shorts. May be armed ... If seen call 911.”
The alert was sent out by text, phone and through a computer message, said Judy Longshaw, spokesperson for the college.
Cop saw the shooting, gave chase
All three suspects in the shooting were in custody by 5:40 p.m., police said. An officer saw the suspects shoot at a home south of the Winthrop campus at 4:18 p.m., Rock Hill Police Department officials said in a written statement.
“A Rock Hill Police officer, in an unmarked vehicle, witnessed suspects in a silver Impala shoot into a residence on Lancaster Avenue,” the statement said.
The officer then followed the car and coordinated with other officers to intercept the suspects’ vehicle, Rock Hill police Lt. Michael Chavis said in a statement. The suspects’ vehicle then fled and police started a pursuit, Chavis said. The suspects’ vehicle ran a traffic light at Eden Terrace and Charlotte Avenue near the Winthrop campus and hit another car, Chavis said.
Two suspects were caught at the crash scene, then a third suspect was captured shortly afterward following a search of the area that included K-9 and other units, Chavis said.
The three suspects have not yet been identified but are in custody at the Rock Hill city Jail, Chavis said.
No one hurt in shooting
No one was hurt by the bullets fired into the home on Lancaster Avenue, Chavis said.
No motive for the drive-by shooting has been released.
EMS responded to the scene of the crash of the suspects’ vehicle near the Winthrop campus. Both occupants of that vehicle were transported by EMS as a precaution, Chavis said.
Rock Hill police issued a Twitter statement Friday afternoon around 5 p.m. about the shooting.
The third suspect is in custody at this time. The K9 search has concluded. Officers will still be visible in the area. All suspects are in custody.
— Rock Hill PD (@rockhillpd) April 16, 2021
Winthrop is a public college that is part of the South Carolina public university system.
The incident is not believed to be connected to the university, Longshaw said. Winthrop has its own police department but the incident was handled by the Rock Hill Police Department, Longshaw said.
The campus was not on lockdown during the incident, police and university officials said.
Barricades on Oakland Avenue near the campus were previously set up for the annual Come-See-Me Parade, officials said.
