SLED: Suspect dead after shooting, injuring officer during traffic stop in Chesterfield County

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A man accused of shooting an officer in McBee during a traffic stop has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after an overnight manhunt for the suspect came to an end Friday, sources tell Queen City News.

An hours-long search for the suspect continued overnight until he was located and pursued by multiple law enforcement agencies. The ordeal came to an end when Modlin was located near a home and cornfield in nearby Lee County.

Sources told Queen City News Investigative Reporter Jody Barr that Modlin died after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound. QCN has reached out to SLED officials for further details.

The series of events began late Thursday night, Sept. 19, during a traffic stop near S. 11th Street where Alston Modlin, 27, reportedly shot an officer and then fled the scene.

The Lee County Sheriff confirmed that K9 Meka died after gunfire sparked a fire in a Lee County patrol vehicle. K9 Meka, who was 4 years old, worked with the chief deputy for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Nearly 60 rounds of gunfire took place before Modlin was found, sources told Barr.

According to McBee Police, Gerald Wright, the officer who was shot on Thursday, was treated for his injuries at a nearby medical center and is expected to be OK.

“Thanks the Lord for sparing Officer Gerald Wright’s life,” said McBee Mayor Glenn Odom. He went on to thank people for their prayers.

SLED released several photos of Modlin and his vehicle on Friday. They said he could have been driving in a 2023 Toyota Tacoma with SC tag KRF-577 with a LEER sticker on the back window.

Modlin was spotted traveling westbound at 6 a.m. Friday in Florence before he was located.

The shooting incident and death investigation remain active and ongoing. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Horry County Police Department, remain at the scene near the cornfield on Friday afternoon.

Agencies cleared the scene around 2 a.m. Saturday. The investigation remains active and ongoing.