
Investigators believe that an escaped prisoner stabbed a police officer multiple times while on the run.
Michael Alan Williamson, aged 47, was serving a life sentence at McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina for armed robbery. However, on December 7th, 2016, around 8:50 p.m., he managed to break out of the holding facility.
South Carolina authorities suspect that while on the run, Mr. Williamson was confronted by a police officer at a Walmart. During the brawl, the escaped inmate allegedly stabbed the law enforcement officer and fled the scene.
According to WIS-TV, a shoplifter was confronted by a police officer at a Walmart, located approximately 75 miles away from South Carolina, in Columbia. The investigators believe that the man apprehended by the law enforcement officer was, in fact, Michael Williamson, the escaped prisoner who managed to break out from jail on Wednesday evening, December 7th. Furthermore, the fight between the officer and the perpetrator ended up with the law enforcement agent suffering multiple stab wounds, according to the initial reports.
However, at this point, the investigators are yet uncertain if the man picked up by the Walmart’s surveillance system was, in fact, the escaped prisoner. In order to speed up the investigation, the Police Department has released the latest images of the suspect, captured only moments before the alleged attack took place. At the time, 9:30 p.m., the prime suspect was wearing a dark ball cap and black outfit.
As of now, the police officer who suffered multiple stab wounds remains unnamed. According to several witnesses on the scene, the law enforcement officer sustained multiple knife injuries and even manage to chase after the attacker until backup units arrived. However, the suspect managed to escape.
According to the Columbia law enforcement officials, the police officer hurt in the incident is recovering from her wounds. In a post on tweeter, the colleagues of the law enforcement agent express their gratitude towards the concerned public and their best regards.
Several hours after the attack on the police officers, the state officials released a photo of Michael Alan Williamson, stating that the man is wanted for questioning in relation to the stabbing. Mr. Williamson has been convicted to life in prison for assault, armed robbery, and battery with the intent to kill in 1997, according to the Department of Corrections.
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