Phillip Walden Death – Obituary | Phillip John Walden Has Died

Newberry County deputies say an attempted carjacking out of Laurens County is what set off a chain of events last night that led to a Taylors, South Carolina man being shot and killed on I-26 in Lexington County. The NCSO says the suspect tried to steal the vehicle of a couple who had stopped to help him around 5:30pm Sunday. Fortunately, the couple was able to escape and pull away. The suspect, who the couple believed was armed, then drove to the Newberry/Laurens County line on I-26, where the NCSO says he ran off the road and rolled his vehicle around 5:50pm. He then is accused of trying to carjack two other vehicles after the drivers tried to stop and help him. It was the third attempt, he was successful is stealing the vehicle and took off Eastbound on I-26. The calls to the Newberry County 911 Center said he was armed with varying witnesses saying it was a knife, a pair of scissors, or a handgun. A Newberry County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the vehicle at the 72 mm East I 26 and attempted a traffic stop. The NCSO described the following chain of events as the deputy caught up to the suspect: “The suspect then began to evade the Deputy. The pursuit continued on East I 26, with the suspect striking several vehicles. The pursuing Deputies believed several of the strikes were intentional to prevent the pursuit. An assisting Deputy attempted to stop the suspect and was intentionally struck by the suspect, driving the patrol vehicle into a guard rail. The pursuit continued down I 26 with the suspect exiting at the 97 mm (Peak) and returning West bound on the Interstate. The suspect exited at the 91 mm (Chapin) traveling through the parking lot of the Taco Bell. After striking cars and a trailer in the parking lot, he proceeded to the East bound Exit ramp in the opposite direction. At that point a Newberry County Sheriff’s Deputy and a SC Highway Patrol Trooper attempted to block him from entering the interstate in the wrong direction. The suspect rammed into the Deputy’s vehicle, crossing the Interstate, then striking a Jersey barrier, disabling the suspect vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle and ignored commands of the officers. The officers attempted to deploy Tasers twice, but both deployments were unsuccessful. At that point, the suspect charged the officers and moved his hand toward the rear of his waist. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Deputy fired striking the suspect, disabling him. “This was an incredibly dangerous incident from start to finish,” according to Sheriff Lee Foster. “It was very obvious that he had no regard for human life and the law,” said Sheriff Foster. “Had they not stopped him, he was destined to harm someone more seriously than he did.” Fortunately, the two Deputies he hit were not injured and no one in the public was seriously injured. “This is a very fluid situation and more facts will be forthcoming from Coroner Fisher and SLED,” said Sheriff Foster. As per policy, SLED is investigating, and the Deputy will be placed on administrative leave. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office identified the suspect as Phillip John Walden, 40, of Taylors. He died of multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.