Did your phone go off late at night? This is why and what happened in SC
Late Monday night, cellphones across the Palmetto State made alarming sounds because the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division issued a Blue Alert.
After 10:30 p.m., SLED activated the Blue Alert in an effort to find an armed and dangerous woman who was wanted after a police officer was injured in a shooting.
The search for Lacey Cushman was centered in the Blackville area of Barnwell County, SLED said in an 11:15 p.m. email. That’s where a Springfield police officer was injured in a shooting, according to SLED.
Further information on the officer’s condition was not available. No other injuries were reported.
SLED shared a description of Cushman and the vehicle she was believed to be driving.
There was no word about what led to the shooting, but at 11:56 p.m., SLED reported that Cushman was in custody.
Information about where Cushman was located and taken into custody was not available. There was no word about any charges she is facing, or where she’s being held.
What’s a Blue Alert?
A Blue Alert is used to broadcast critical information to the public as quickly as possible to assist in the apprehension of an offender, or offenders, who are accused of killing, seriously injuring, or abducting a law enforcement officer and poses a significant risk to the public and other law enforcement officers, SLED said on its website.
The Blue Alert Program could increase the chances of rapidly capturing the wanted individual or locating an abducted officer, according to SLED.
If the wanted person is seen, or if anyone has knowledge of the identity of the offender, the public is warned to take caution and to immediately call 911 to inform to law enforcement, SLED said.
Blue Alert activation criteria
- Law enforcement has confirmed a law enforcement officer has been killed, seriously injured, or kidnapped
- Law enforcement has concluded the suspect is a threat to public safety, and there is enough information to disseminate to the public to assist law enforcement in apprehending the suspect
- Law Enforcement has entered the suspect as WANTED in the National Crime Information Center database (either in the temporary felon file or the wanted person file), and if available, vehicle information has been included
- Law enforcement has determined there is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public to assist in the apprehension of the suspect
SOURCE: SLED
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:53 AM with the headline "Did your phone go off late at night? This is why and what happened in SC."
