Aiken Mourns Amanda Buckner After Deadly Deputy Shooting Near Battle of Aiken Site

 Amanda Buckner, 38, of Aiken, died after 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. The encounter followed an investigation involving a vehicle reportedly connected to an accident and ended after deputies pursued the vehicle. Buckner was transported to Wellstar MCG in Augusta after being wounded in the shooting, but she later died from her injuries. Her death has left relatives and loved ones grieving while authorities continue examining what happened.

The incident began when deputies were dispatched following a report about a vehicle allegedly involved in an accident. Investigators said information from that call led deputies to the RaceWay on Columbia Highway North, where they continued looking into the circumstances. Authorities later located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. What happened during the initial accident and why deputies became involved remain subjects of the investigation, and officials have not publicly provided a complete account of those early events.

The situation escalated when the vehicle allegedly struck a patrol car and then fled, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies pursued the vehicle, with the chase eventually ending on Scotch Lane off Powell Pond Road. Authorities said the female driver, identified as Buckner, exited the vehicle after the pursuit. Officials then reported that she opened fire on deputies, prompting deputies to return fire. Buckner was struck during the exchange and taken for emergency medical treatment.

A deputy was also injured during the gunfire and was transported to a hospital with injuries to the lower extremities. Authorities later said the deputy was in stable condition. Officials have not released the deputy’s name or provided further public details about the extent of the injuries beyond the information already announced. The deputy’s condition remains an important part of the aftermath as investigators review the encounter. Authorities continue monitoring the deputy’s recovery closely.

Following the shooting, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, known as SLED, responded and assumed responsibility for investigating the use of deadly force. The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were involved in the exchange, while outside investigators will review the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office also responded. Officials said Buckner’s identity would be formally confirmed after family notification. The review will examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

Several important questions remain unanswered as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released a full timeline explaining the reported vehicle accident, the attempted traffic stop, the alleged collision with the patrol car, the pursuit, or the moments immediately preceding the gunfire. Officials also have not publicly described what prompted the initial call or provided additional details about evidence collected. Because the investigation remains active, early accounts should be understood as preliminary and subject to further findings.

Amanda Buckner’s death has brought grief to her family and loved ones while investigators work to establish the complete circumstances of the encounter. The shooting occurred in an area near the Battle of Aiken re-enactment site, drawing attention as authorities secured and examined the scene. For those who knew Buckner, the investigation cannot erase the personal loss created by her death. As SLED and authorities continue their review, additional information may clarify how the sequence unfolded and what led to the fatal exchange.