A police officer in Greenville, South Carolina, was the target of a sudden and brutal attack while sitting in his patrol car. The incident, which ended with the shooter dead, was captured on surveillance footage.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has released video evidence showing a car pulling into a parking lot and stopping right beside the police vehicle. In a matter of seconds, the suspect opened fire, with gunshots illuminating the night, before speeding away and leaving the officer injured in his car.

The officer, who sustained injuries in the ambush, was quickly transported to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, he has since been discharged and is recovering.

Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis shared that deputies were able to track down the suspect’s vehicle, leading to a short pursuit that followed the shooting.

The surveillance footage reveals a vehicle cruising through a Greenville parking lot under the cover of darkness, involved in the targeted attack against the officer, according to police reports. The incident and subsequent chase underscore the risks faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.

Authorities say there were multiple exchanges of gunfire during the chase, which ended with a crash and the suspect dead inside his vehicle. The Greenville County Coroner identified the suspect as David William Lane, 42.

“This incident stemmed from an ambush-style attack against a Greenville city officer,” Lewis said.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that it had prior contact with Lane before Sunday’s ambush. In a statement, the sheriff’s office said deputies received multiple complaints from neighbors Jan. 1 and Jan. 2 regarding Lane’s comments and behavior.

Damage is visible on a Greenville police patrol vehicle after a shooting that police said targeted a single officer. (The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division  )

Deputies responded to and investigated each complaint, determining that while the behavior was concerning, it did not rise to the level required for a criminal arrest warrant.

Out of an abundance of caution, the sheriff’s office said administrators at the Hunting Downs apartment complex coordinated with deputies to hire off-duty sheriff’s deputies for security. That detail began on Jan. 8 to help ensure the safety of residents.

A mother whose daughter lived at the complex shared security video with Fox Carolina that appears to show Lane approaching her daughter’s apartment earlier this month while carrying a gun. The woman told the outlet Lane had been stalking her daughter and others at the complex and made threatening statements.

A second view shows damage to a Greenville police patrol vehicle after a shooting that police said was an ambush targeting one officer. (The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division)

SLED was asked to investigate the ambush by both the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The agency says it will conduct a thorough, independent investigation, including witness interviews and forensic testing, before submitting its findings to prosecutors. No additional details are being released at this time.

The agency said the incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2026 and the first involving the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office this year. SLED said the state recorded 45 officer-involved shootings in 2025, seven of which involved the sheriff’s office.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.