Lowrance Gets 28 Years for Shootout with Police

A circuit judge on Thursday convicted Patrick Dean Lowrance on attempted murder and other charges stemming from an Oct. 28, 2011 shootout with police, the Greenville News reported.

Lowrance, 27, of Duncan, was accused of shooting at two officers during a 12-hour manhunt that caused the lockdown of numerous schools and also shut down Mauldin Road.

A mistrial was declared this past October in prosecutors' first attempt to convict Lowrance. After a four-day trial in which Lowrance claimed he wasn't the shooter, Circuit Judge Letitia Verdin took little pity in imposing her sentence following the jury's verdict and testimony from the officers about the impact of the incident on them and their families.

“It boggles the mind,” Verdin told Lowrance. “You cannot be in society and do this. Period.”

Police had attempted to pull Lowrance over on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle. Lowrance fled but was eventually located at the Berkeley Pointe apartment complex. Lowrance opened fire, shooting nine rounds at officers Taci Cobb and Charles Lane, who returned fire, hitting Lowrance in the shoulder, authorities said.

Lowarnce was able to get away again, and was eventually arrested after a daylong manhunt.

In addition to his conviction on attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and failure to stop for a blue light, authorities also said Lowrance faces charges for the robbery of a Wendy's days before the shootout, the paper reported.

According to the news report, a decision on those charges will come in the future, Assistant Solicitor Lucas Marchant said.

Read the entire report HERE.