Sheriff: Officers were ambushed by suspect in South Carolina

YORK, S.C. (AP) - The Latest on the wounding of four officers in South Carolina (all times local):

2:10 p.m.

A South Carolina sheriff says three law enforcement officers were ambushed as they searched for a man suspected of beating his wife in the couple’s home. A fourth officer had been shot earlier in the search.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson says one of the officers shot early Tuesday is “hanging on to life.” The suspect, 47-year-old Christian Thomas McCall, was also shot. The sheriff did not know his condition.

Tolson says McCall ran into the woods after officers arrived, and later shot York County Sgt. Randy Clinton who was chasing him with a police dog.

The sheriff says two hours later McCall ambushed York County Det. Mike Doty, injuring him critically. He also wounded York County Sgt. Buddy Brown and York City Police Sgt. Kyle Cummings. All three were on the county’s SWAT team.

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12:05 p.m.

Authorities say one officer is in critical condition and three others were less seriously wounded after they were shot by a fleeing suspect in South Carolina.

York County Sheriff’s spokesman Trent Faris said Tuesday three of the four wounded officers were members of a county-wide SWAT team.

Faris says 47-year-old Christian Thomas McCall ran from his York home around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday after officers arrived to investigate him attacking a woman. Faris didn’t know the woman’s condition.

Faris says McCall shot a pursuing officer who was accompanied by a police dog, then about four hours later shot three SWAT officers in the woods. He didn’t say which officer was critically injured.

Faris said at a news conference that McCall was also shot and was hospitalized, but did not give his condition.

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11:15 a.m.

Authorities say a man suspected of shooting four law enforcement officers in South Carolina also fired at a police helicopter and damaged it. No one on board was injured.

State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry says gunfire from 47-year-old Christian Thomas McCall damaged the rear stabilizer of one of the agency’s helicopters early Tuesday.

Berry says the officers on board landed safely and were not injured.

State criminal records show only one arrest for McCall. In February 1994, he was charged with assaulting a law officer, resisting arrest, and simple assault in Florence. The records did not show what happened to the case in court.

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9:30 a.m.

State police have released the name of a suspect in the wounding of four law enforcement officers in South Carolina.

State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry said 47-year-old Christian Thomas McCall is the man officers think shot and wounded three York County sheriff’s deputies and a York police officer early Tuesday. McCall was also wounded in the shootout. There’s no word on their conditions.

A neighbor of McCall’s says he was stunned to find out who might have been involved.

Roger Gilfillan says McCall lived with his wife and three children in a rural area outside York. Gilfillan said McCall frequently walked around the neighborhood but only spoke when someone spoke to him. Gilfillan said McCall never appeared to cause any trouble.

No one answered the door at McCall’s home Tuesday morning.

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6:25 a.m.

At least three sheriff’s deputies have been wounded in a shooting in South Carolina.

Media outlets reported that the shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday near York when officers responded to a domestic dispute.

York County sheriff’s spokesman Trent Faris said the wounded officers have been taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He did not have word on the officers’ conditions. Fairs did not immediately respond Tuesday to messages seeking more information.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are assisting in the investigation.

News outlets reported a suspect was in custody.

York is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Charlotte.