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KERSHAW COUNTY,SC (WACH) A shootout in Kershaw County left a deputy run over by a truck, and a suspect dead.

One man was shot and killed, another arrested during a traffic stop by Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators after a narcotics officer was dragged and run over by the suspect’s pickup truck. Darryl Herbert, 52, of Camden who was the driver of the truck was arrested at the scene. His passenger Melvin Lawhorn, 26, who died at the scene, was shot one time by the narcotics investigator.

On February 28, Kershaw County Sheriff narcotics officers were conducted all day surveillance after receivng information that Lawhorn was going drug source and would return with a large quantity of drugs. At about 8:20pm, deputies spotted the suspect’s vehicle being driven by Herbert, with Lawhorn  as the right front passenger. The officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Old Stagecoach Rd. between Cassatt and Camden.

One of the officers approached the passenger side of the vehicle and made contact with Lawhorn while other officers approached the driver side . Almost immediately, Lawhorn who was still seated in the vehicle, lunged away from the officer over toward the driver and stepped on the accelerator. At the same time, the deputy reached into the vehicle to stop Lawhorn. The vehicle lurched forward dragging the deputy for about 120 feet and running over his leg.

While being dragged, the deputy was able to draw his pistol and fire one round at Lawhorn who was still pressing the accelerator of the vehicle.

The deputy was thrown from the vehicle as it picked up speed in its attempt to flee. Another narcotics vehicle pursued the suspect vehicle for several hundred yards and eventually forced Herbert and Lawhorn’s vehicle off the road. Officers took Herbert into custody immediately. Lawhorn was found  dead in the vehicle, his foot still on the accelerator.

The narcotics investigator was initially thought to have a broken foot and leg, but a medical examination indicated that he had no broken bones, but torn ligaments and abrasions. He was treated and released by Kershaw Health hospital physicians.

As is customary in officer involved shootings, SLED was called in to investigate the shooting and the SC Highway Patrol handled the traffic aspect of the situation. SLED investigators discovered approximately one ounce of cocaine in Lawhorn’s possession.

Lawhorn has previous arrests for numerous drug offenses, assault (high and aggravated), receiving stolen goods and breach of peace. He was recently incarcerated and released on a parole revocation. Herbert had previous arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under suspension, trespassing, malicious injury to personal property, criminal domestic violence and narcotics violations.

Herbert was taken to the Kershaw County Detention Center and will be charged with failure to stop for a blue light and driving under the influence. Herbert is also currently out on bond for a narcotics violation.