Video shows South Carolina police officer ambushed in patrol car in explosion of gunfire; suspect found dead after shootout
A recent incident in Greenville, South Carolina, saw a police officer ambushed in his patrol car by a suspect who pulled up beside him and opened fire. The attack was captured on surveillance video, showing the suspect’s vehicle stopping directly alongside the patrol car before gunfire erupted, leaving the officer wounded. The officer was quickly taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been released.
Following the attack, authorities located the suspect’s vehicle, leading to a brief pursuit that involved multiple exchanges of gunfire. The chase ended with a crash, resulting in the suspect, identified as David William Lane, 42, being found dead inside his vehicle. Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis described the incident as an ambush-style attack against the Greenville city officer.
It was revealed that the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had prior contact with Lane before the ambush, responding to complaints from neighbors regarding his concerning behavior and comments. Despite these complaints, no criminal arrest warrant was issued. In response to the situation, administrators at the Hunting Downs apartment complex hired off-duty sheriff’s deputies for security to ensure the safety of residents.
Security footage shared by a resident at the complex showed Lane approaching an apartment while carrying a gun, indicating a pattern of stalking and threatening behavior. Both the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office requested that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigate the ambush. SLED will conduct an independent investigation, including witness interviews and forensic testing, before presenting its findings to prosecutors.
The incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026, with SLED reporting 45 officer-involved shootings in the state in 2025. The agency emphasized the importance of thorough investigation in such cases to ensure transparency and accountability. The safety and well-being of law enforcement officers and the community remain a top priority in addressing incidents of this nature.
