Warrants Taken Against Suspect Shooting of SC Deputy

Investigators with the Greenville County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office have obtained warrants against Gregory Wayne Maxwell, 50, of Fair Play, South Carolina, in relation to last Thursday’s shooting of an Oconee County Deputy, and the subsequent shootout with additional deputies a short time later. 

Warrants against Maxwell  include five counts of Attempted Murder, and a count of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime.   

According to Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, Deputy Corporal Lucas Watts, 27, initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado last Thursday, Nov. 16, at approximately noon while patrolling Highway 11 near Fairplay, SC.

After the driver, later identified as Maxwell, initially pulled over, he drove away and a pursuit ensued.

According to incident reports and Crenshaw, Maxwell made his way down to the area of Black Bass Road at Shelor Ferry Road where shots were fired. Watts was hit by the gunfire and Maxwell again drove away. 

While first responders and medical emergency teams responded to airlift Watts to Greenville Memorial Hospital, law enforcement officers from several agencies continued to track Maxwell, who was later located on Black Bass Road and was shot by Deputies during the course of his arrest, according to Crenshaw.  Maxwell was also transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Maxwell remains in custody at the hospital due to sustaining injuries from at least one gunshot wound from law enforcement.

Following a potential discharge from the hospital, Maxwell will be arraigned by an Oconee County Magistrate and formally charged.

Deputy Watts underwent surgery and as of Saturday was listed in stable but serious condition. No further updates on his condition have been released.

Watts has served with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office since March 2020.

He came to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, where he served for approximately two and one-half years.

Corporal Watts is currently assigned to the P.A.C.E. (Pro-Active Community Enforcement) team and serves in the Office’s Marine Unit.

Sheriff Crenshaw said the officer involved shooting investigation is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.