Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Anderson deputy severely injured, suspect dead in 11th SC officer-involved shooting of 2026

Police line in Canada.
Rene Johnston
/
Toronto Star via Getty Images

A traffic stop in Anderson turned deadly Monday, April 20.

A suspect is dead and a deputy critically injured after a shooting Monday on I-85 in the Upstate.

The suspect, who has been identified by the Anderson County coroner as 32-year-old Austin Derrell Robertson, reportedly shot a responding officer. The officer was airlifted to the hospital.

Investigators say the deputy who made the initial traffic stop returned fire on Robertson. Robertson died at the scene.

This incident happened on the same day a Springfield officer was injured in a shooting in Barnwell. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) sent out a Code Blue Public Safety Alert in response. Lacey Cushman, 37, was arrested in connection with the shooting after being deemed by law enforcement as "armed and dangerous".

SLED is investigating both incidents.

Kristina Thacker joined the South Carolina Public Radio team in September of 2025. She is a multimedia journalist with experience in both on-air reporting and production.