Testimony Underway in Trial of Man Accused of Shooting Two Lavonia Police Officers

In Franklin County, testimony is underway in Superior Court in the trial of a South Carolina man accused of shooting two Lavonia Police officers.

Wednesday morning, jurors heard from both officers involved, Captain Michael Schulman and Officer Jeffrey Martin.

Both described the incident on the evening of December 12, 2016.

That night, a vehicle driven by 21-year old Khari Deshaun Gordon was pulled over for a routine traffic violation in the parking lot of Zaxby’s on Jones St. in Lavonia.

A check of the vehicle’s VIN number found it had been reported stolen out of Greenville, SC.

As Schulman questioned Gordon, Gordon pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot both officers. The incident was captured on Schulman’s body camera and replayed in court Tuesday.

Both officers were wounded but have since recovered and returned to duty.

Wednesday afternoon, the jury heard from two key witnesses.

Kimberlie Wade had stopped that night at the Zaxbys on her way home to Charlotte, NC.

Wade told the court she was eating in her car when Gordon pulled his car next to hers. She said she saw the police vehicle’s blue lights and heard Gordon being questioned by the officers.

She said soon after she heard two gunshots and heard the officers yell, “May Day!” and “I’m shot!”  Wade then called 911.

Another witness to testify Wednesday was the Director of Nursing at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia.

Angela Hooper said she and another employee were talking in the hospital parking lot when a barefoot black man came up to their vehicles.

Hooper said she got into her car and locked the door and the man began banging on her car asking for help.  She said the man, whom she identified in court as Gordon, told her he had been robbed.

Hooper then called 911 and was told by the dispatcher that the man had allegedly shot two police officers.

In court, surveillance video of the hospital parking lot was played for the jury showing a man banging on Hooper’s car.

Other witnesses called to the stand Wednesday also reported seeing Gordon flee Zaxby’s after the shooting barefoot and carrying a gun.

Testimony is expected to continue Thursday in Carnesville.