COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says four deputies opened fire early Monday morning after a suspect shot at them multiple times during a chase in Columbia.

Lott held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the case that had happened hours earlier.

“This community does not want our deputies out here shot and killed while they're protecting our citizens,” Lott said. “If you point a gun and shoot at our deputies, we're gonna shoot back. We're gonna protect our deputies, and that's what Richland County expects us to do.”

The incident began around 1 a.m. when deputies said they tried to stop a car that was speeding on North Main Street. According to Lott, the driver refused to stop, leading to a seven-minute chase that ended on Monticello Road near I-20. Lott said th

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