South Carolina Police Chief Wounded During Pursuit, Suspect in Custody Following Blue Alert
What to Know
- The incident began late at night with a vehicle pursuit that extended into the early morning hours across multiple counties.
- Lacey Cushman, armed and dangerous, was identified as the suspect and was driving a white Chevrolet Traverse with specific license plates.
- A Blue Alert was issued statewide to locate Cushman, who was considered a threat to public safety.
SPRINGFIELD, South Carolina -- An armed suspect accused of shooting a South Carolina police chief during a vehicle pursuit is in custody.
The incident began late at night and continued into the early morning hours as a vehicle chase involving Springfield Police Chief Adam Evans moved from Orangeburg County into Barnwell County. During the pursuit, the suspect — identified as Lacey Nicole Cushman, 37 — allegedly fired into the chief’s vehicle, injuring him, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
A Blue Alert was issued statewide as law enforcement agencies searched for the suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous. Information released during the alert described Cushman as driving a 2011 white Chevrolet Traverse with South Carolina license plate 7061RU. Law enforcement had advised the public to call 911 with any information regarding her whereabouts.
According to SLED, Cushman was located in Orangeburg County early the following morning and taken into custody without further incident. The Blue Alert was subsequently canceled.
Evans was recovering at home following the incident. He has been Springfield’s police chief since November 2025 and is the town’s only police officer, according to WIS-TV.
The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office requested SLED to investigate the shooting. Authorities confirmed the investigation remains active and ongoing, with additional information expected as the case develops.