Virginia man accused of trying to kill Rock Hill police during SC chase
A Virginia man is accused of trying to kill police when he shot at officers as many as six times during a chase after an armed robbery of a Rock Hill store Tuesday.
Ronald Eugene Wilson Jr., 36, of Staunton, Va., is charged with two counts of attempted murder, according to arrest warrants obtained by The Herald, and York County court and jail records.
Wilson allegedly was a passenger in a car fleeing police after an armed robbery of a convenience store near Interstate 77.
The warrants state Wilson shot “approximately six times” at two Rock Hill Police Department officers from a moving vehicle “with the intent to kill.”
Neither officer was hurt.
Wilson was charged with the new offenses by the York County Sheriff’s Office, records show. Deputies also charged Wilson with burglary and a weapon crime. The burglary charge comes from Wilson allegedly climbing into a crawl space under a house to avoid being caught after the chase, according to the warrants.
The gun charge is possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The weapon warrant states Wilson fired the gun at two Rock Hill officers. The warrant says there is video evidence, and the gun was recovered by investigators.
Police have not released any patrol car dashcam video of the incident.
Police did not fire back during the chase, Rock Hill Police Department Lt. Michael Chavis said.
Suspect could face up to life if convicted
Attempted murder carries up to 30 years for each conviction, South Carolina law shows.
Burglary carries 15 years up to life for a conviction, state law shows.
Wilson already faces armed robbery, conspiracy and gun charges from the 1 a.m. robbery at the Circle K store robbery on Cherry Road south of I-77.
Armed robbery carries 10 to 30 years for a conviction.
The chase
Wilson was the passenger in an SUV driven by Andrew Gunnar Johnson, 23, of Charlotte, officials said.
Police pursued the duo south through Rock Hill, York County and into Chester County before the suspects were caught after the suspects came back into York County, officials said.
Police used stop sticks in the road to deflate the tires, officials said.
A sheriff’s office incident report stated the chase reached speeds of 80 miles per hour.
Johnson is charged with conspiracy, accessory before the fact to a felony, and failure to stop for a blue light.
Both suspects remain in the York County jail without bond.
