What We Know
Aiken: What We Know
Video · 2:41 · Watch on YouTube
Aiken County Deputy Preston Metts was shot during an Oct. 21, 2026 traffic stop on Shiloh Heights Road, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office says. On Oct. 23 the sheriff announced three people had been arrested and charged. None has been convicted, and all are presumed innocent.
What's confirmed
- Wed., Oct. 21, about 11:30 p.m.Metts stopped a car on Shiloh Heights Road. Deputies say one person got out and ran; Metts chased on foot. (WRDW; WIS; The Augusta Press)
- Sheriff Marty Sawyer says Metts was hit by gunfire, returned fire and called for backup. He was shot in the stomach, the side and the leg and taken to a hospital in Augusta. (WIS; The Augusta Press)
- Metts has had two surgeries; more are expected. The sheriff called it "a long road to recovery." (WIS, Oct. 23)
- Thu., Oct. 22, about 4 a.m.the car was found empty in a nearby neighborhood. SLED was brought in, as is standard when an officer is shot. (WRDW; WIS)
- Fri., Oct. 23the sheriff announced three arrests. A man arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., is charged with attempted murder and weapons offenses and faces extradition. A second person is charged as an accessory after the fact. A third is charged with misprision of a felony (knowing of a felony and not reporting it). (WIS; The Augusta Press; ABC News 4)
What we don't know
- Why the car was stopped, how the three people are connected, and what any of them will plead: the sheriff's office hasn't said.
- When the man arrested in Florida will be returned to South Carolina, and when any first court appearance will be.
What happens next
Extradition and first court appearances. We'll update this when the case reaches court.
Chapters
- 0:00Aiken County deputy shot: overview
- 0:17Aiken County deputy shot: the stop
- 0:35Preston Metts shooting: what we know
- 1:13Aiken arrests: Oct. 23, 2026
- 1:56Aiken case: where it stands
Sources
- WIS, Oct. 23, 2026 Reportingwistv.com/2026/10/23/sheriff-give-update-shooting-that-injured-aiken-county-deputy/
- The Augusta Press, Oct. 23, 2026 Reportingtheaugustapress.com/3-arrested-in-shooting-that-wounded-aiken-county-deputy-preston-metts/
- WRDW, Oct. 22, 2026 ("What we know (and what we don't)")
- ABC News 4, Oct. 23, 2026
The record · as of Oct. 24, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
Verified timeline
- 2026-10-21Around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, an Aiken County Sheriff's deputy, Preston Metts, made a traffic stop on Shiloh Heights Road near S.C. 19. Deputies say a person got out and ran, and Metts followed on foot.WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4; Yahoo
- 2026-10-21Sheriff Marty Sawyer says Metts was hit by gunfire (stomach, side and leg), returned fire and called for help; he was taken to a hospital in Augusta. Account of the sheriff's office; not tested in court.WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4; Yahoo
- 2026-10-22The car from the stop was found empty a short distance from the scene (reported near Silent Barge Cove, early Thursday morning); the person who ran was not with it.WIS; ABC News 4; Augusta Press
- 2026-10-23Metts has had two surgeries, with more expected; Sheriff Sawyer called it a long road to recovery. Metts has been with the sheriff's office since February 2023.WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4; Yahoo
- 2026-10-23Early Friday, one man was arrested in Jacksonville, Fla., and is charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and felon-in-possession. Extradition to South Carolina pending. Charged only, not convicted; presumed innocent.WIS; Augusta Press; Yahoo; ABC News 4
- 2026-10-23A second person, arrested in Lexington County, is charged with accessory after the fact; WIS says the arrest was on an unrelated warrant. Charged only, not convicted.WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4
- 2026-10-23A third person is charged with misprision of a felony (failure to report a crime). Charged only, not convicted. Per Yahoo/WIS, neither of the two others is accused of firing the shots.WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4
- 2026-10-23At a noon news conference Friday, Sheriff Sawyer announced the arrests and said: 'Violence against law enforcement and this agency will not be tolerated' (quote in WIS and relayed by Augusta Press).WIS; Augusta Press; ABC News 4
Also in our research file
- Sheriff: Three arrested, deputy undergoes multiple surgeries after shooting ReportingABC News 4 · Oct. 23, 2026
- Aiken County deputy shooting suspect arrested in Florida (syndicated) ReportingYahoo · Oct. 23, 2026
- Aiken County Sheriff releases more details in the deputy shooting investigation, 3 arrests made ReportingWSPA · Oct. 23, 2026
- WRDW 10/22 officials detail shooting Reportingwrdw.com
- Post and Courier (Yahoo syndication) 3 arrested Reportingyahoo.com
- WJBF: three arrested Reportingwjbf.com
Updates and corrections
Photos: Deputy Metts, via Facebook as published by The Augusta Press; Sheriff Sawyer, Aiken County Sheriff's Office via The Augusta Press. Map: U.S. Census TIGER (public domain).
Charges are accusations. The three people charged are not named here because none has been convicted; each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
