The driver, apparently upset over an evacuation route, opened fire on deputies, authorities said.
A South Carolina man apparently upset over a Hurricane Matthew evacuation route has died after opening fire on sheriff’s deputies, authorities said Thursday.
The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Lucas Felkel, 35. He was shot Wednesday during a gunfight with deputies who chased him after he knocked over traffic cones and sped down a road that had been blocked off, investigators said at a press conference, CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reported.
Sheriff Duane Lewis said the incident ended in a parking lot, where deputies were finally able to stop the driver. He then pointed a gun at deputies and started firing, Lewis said.
The officers shot back, wounding Felkel. He was hospitalized and later died, authorities said Thursday.
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As many as 200,000 people are trying to get out of South Carolina after the state issued a mandatory evacuation order Wednesday as Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm, approached Florida Thursday afternoon.
“Extremely dangerous, life-threatening weather conditions are forecast in the next 24 hours,” the National Weather Service warned Thursday afternoon. “Airborne debris lofted by extreme winds will be capable of breaching structures, unprotected windows and vehicles.”
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