Rifle assault on patrol cars leads to man’s arrest
EASLEY — An exchange of gunfire with police at a home near Easley has led to attempted murder charges being filed against an Easley man.
According to a release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department, Jason Lee Chance, of 209 Vista Circle in Easley, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, as well as first-degree assault and battery, two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, two counts of discharging a firearm into a dwelling, a count of malicious injury and four counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.
On February 14, deputies responded to a home after receiving a call that someone was discharging a firearm inside a house located on Murdock Lane. When officers arrived at the scene they say the suspect had gone, but the residents of the home claimed that Chance had come into the house with an assault rifle and fired it into the floor of the home, saying “you are all dead.” The witnesses also claimed the suspect pointed the gun at one person and said “you are going to die tonight.”
Deputies then say they began patrolling the neighborhood looking for the suspect’s vehicle. The car was spotted at 209 Vista Circle. When deputies exited their cars, the windows of the patrol cars began shattering from incoming rifle fire they believe was coming from the house on Vista Circle.
As they took cover, one of the deputies returned fire. The deputies repositioned and as other units arrived established a perimeter around the house. A deputy with a view of the rear of the home heard the suspect talking on a cell phone and then heard several more shots. Immediately after this he heard the suspect yell that he wanted to surrender. Following the deputy’s commands, the suspect walked into view holding an SKS rifle and threw the rifle onto the ground. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
“We’re so fortunate that we didn’t lose two deputies,” Pickens County Sheriff C. David Stone said. “God was really looking out for both of them. This is a prime example of the dangers law enforcement officers face every time they put on the badge and leave home for work. I am very proud of the high quality deputies we have in Pickens County, because their bravery and competence is second to none. I also want to thank the members of the Easley Police Department and S.C. Highway Patrol who responded to assist in the incident.”
Chance is presently incarcerated at the Pickens County Detention Center.