UPDATE: Clarendon school lockdown lifted, nearby shooter escapes

Update: The lockdown has been lifted for the three Summerton area schools and the Clarendon School District 4 Summerton office, according to Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley.

“The suspect cleared the scene,” Baxley said. “Someone probably picked him up.”

Baxley said that his office will follow up on the break-ins as well as the shooting.

SUMMERTON – Three schools and the Clarendon School District 4 Summerton Office are on lockdown this morning while law enforcement officers are actively involved in a manhunt for a suspect who shot at a homeowner early this morning.

Clarendon Hall and Harvest Community School, both located on Dukes Street, are on lockdown along with the Summerton Early Childhood Center and the CSD4 Summerton Office that are located Church Street are on lockdown. Deputies are present at all four school locations as a precautionary measure.

“We had several car break-ins early this morning before daylight,” Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley said. “A homeowner’s Ring camera went off, and he called 911 and headed back home. He sees someone in his backyard. He hollers at the person, and the person shot at the homeowner approximately six times. The shots did not hit the homeowner. Several shots entered the home. No one was injured.”

“We have deputies at each of the schools as a precautionary measure,” Baxley added. “We know that several guns were stolen out of the vehicles that were broken into.”

Baxley said that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division had agents on scene along with their bloodhounds actively searching along with his officers for the suspect.

“First we want to catch this person,” Baxley said. “Secondly, if he’s not in Summerton we want to know that too.”