Amanda Buckner Obituary, AIKEN, S.C. — Amanda Buckner, 38, of Aiken, South Carolina, has died following an exchange of gunfire with an Aiken County sheriff’s deputy Monday afternoon on Scotch Lane near the Battle of Aiken re-enactment site, authorities said.
According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were initially dispatched after receiving a report about a vehicle that was allegedly involved in an accident. Authorities said information led deputies to the RaceWay on Columbia Highway North before they continued their investigation.
Officials said deputies later located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. According to Major Griffin of the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the situation escalated when the vehicle allegedly struck a patrol car and fled, leading deputies on a pursuit that ended on Scotch Lane off Powell Pond Road.
Authorities said the female driver, identified as Amanda Buckner, exited the vehicle after the pursuit and opened fire on deputies. Deputies returned fire, and Buckner was struck during the exchange. She was transported to Wellstar MCG in Augusta, where she later died from her injuries.
A deputy was also injured during the gunfire and was transported to the hospital with injuries to the lower extremities. Authorities later reported that the deputy was in stable condition following the incident.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) responded and took over the investigation into the shooting. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office also responded and said Buckner’s identity would be formally confirmed after family notification.
The circumstances surrounding the initial vehicle accident, the pursuit, and the exchange of gunfire remain under investigation. Officials have not released additional details regarding the events leading up to the shooting.
Amanda Buckner’s death has left family members and loved ones mourning her loss as authorities continue reviewing the incident. The community awaits further updates as investigators work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic encounter.