Who Was Terrence Carraway? Florence, South Carolina Police Officer Fatally Shot

A gunman opened fire and shot seven law enforcement officers, killing 1 in Florence, South Carolina, on Wednesday evening. The suspect was taken into custody and the condition of the other officers is not known.

Maj. Mike Nunn, a spokesman for the Florence County Sheriff’s office, said the deputies were executing a search warrant when the gunman opened fire. He then locked himself in a home with children during a standoff which lasted for two hours.

Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said, "These officers went there unknowing the firepower this suspect had. ... They thought it was a random search warrant. Fire was being shot all over. The way the suspect was positioned, his view of fire was several hundred yards. So, he had an advantage,” CNN reported.

Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler said 6 officers, three Florence County sheriff’s deputies and three other Florence police officers are receiving medical attention.

According to Glenn Kirby, chief deputy with the Florence County Sheriff's Office, the suspect surrendered after talking with a negotiator and was taken to a hospital for treatment, local daily WBTW reported.

President Donald Trump offered his “thoughts and prayers” by tweeting, “My thoughts and prayers are with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence Police Department tonight, in South Carolina. We are forever grateful for what our Law Enforcement Officers do.”

"This is simply devastating news from Florence. The selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement is real, just like the power of prayer is real," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said.

Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken identified the deceased as 52-year-old Terrence Carraway of Darlington, South Carolina. The veteran officer of the City of Florence Police Department was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Postmortem will be conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston on Thursday.

Carraway, an avid Oakland Raiders, was a former football coach as well. Several tributes started pouring in on social media with people remembering him as a beloved family man who was loved, respected and appreciated by all.

“My favorite cop/investigator in Florence, SC. This is a VERY HARD thing to accept right now! Someone took your life and this is not fair!!! You were an awesome cop and even better Friend who always had a smile on your face,” said one person.

“Please pray for the Carraway Family! As well as all the other officers fighting for another day to serve. Officer Carraway served his community to the fullest, his service and love for others will not go unnoticed,” said another mourner.

"Today will mark a very horrific day in the annals of the Florence Police Department. Today, we lost a good friend of mine, an officer that I've known for 30 years. Pray for the family who lost the bravest police officer that I have ever known,” Heidler said.