A deputy was injured in a shootout during a pursuit after a gas station robbery, with the suspect and three others arrested.

A Richmond County deputy was injured in a shootout with 20-year-old Dalyn Dewayne Elder during a pursuit following a BP gas station robbery report on October 2, 2025. Elder, who had 11 outstanding warrants, fled on foot and opened fire on Deputy Victor Rodriguez, grazing him and striking him twice below his vest. Rodriguez returned fire, and Elder later shot Deputy Cpl. Amanda Donald near a Waffle House. Both deputies were hospitalized but are stable, with Rodriguez expected to recover fully. Elder remains in critical condition. Authorities arrested three others in connection with the robbery, with one suspect still at large. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the robbery, while Columbia County is examining the use of force. Sheriff Eugene Brantley praised the deputies’ actions and emphasized accountability. The incident marks the third officer-involved shooting in the region this year.