Deputies have arrested a woman shot by police Saturday in Rock Hill following a chase, alleging she pointed a gun at law enforcement. South Carolina state police now say it was a BB gun made to look like a real pistol, according to officials and jail records.
South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division was asked to investigate the shooting because it involved local police.
“The initial investigation by SLED revealed the weapon was a replica gun, a BB gun, made to look like an actual handgun,” SLED said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Melissa Michelle Hinson, 49, is in the York County jail on charges of breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature and failure to stop for a blue light, according to arrest warrants from the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Hinson was released from a hospital Sunday then arrested on warrants from the sheriff’s office, sheriff’s office Cpl. Johnathan Gilbert said. Hinson’s bail was set at $30,000, records show.
The breach of peace charge alleges Hinson pointed what was believed to be a gun at several people before she fled from officers, according to an arrest warrant obtained by The Herald. The warrant alleges Hinson “continued to point the CO2 pistol, which appeared to be a firearm, at multiple deputies creating a fear of imminent peril…”
A Rock Hill police officer shot her after the Jeep Hinson was driving was disabled with stop sticks after a pursuit, officials said. She was shot around 6 p.m. near Sturgis Road and Cheryl Lynn Drive at the eastern border of Rock Hill and York County, the Rock Hill Police Department and sheriff’s office said in written statements.
The name of the officer was not released.
No officers were hurt, the agencies said.
Police: Deputies were responding to shots fired call
Deputies responded to reports of shots fired from the Jeep at Nassaw Circle and Young Warrior Town Drive, according to a sheriff’s office statement and an incident report obtained by The Herald.
The report stated several people told police a woman driving a burgundy Jeep Wrangler “pointed a firearm out of the vehicle at them and their residences.”
A deputy approached the Jeep stopped at Noostee Town Drive, then the woman pointed a gun at the officer before fleeing in the Jeep, the statement said.
“Deputies attempted to negotiate the armed female out of the vehicle, but the female did not respond to negotiations,” the sheriff’s office statement said. “After several attempts were made a Rock Hill Officer fired one round which hit the female in the shoulder.”
Rock Hill police confirmed in a separate statement officers assisted at the traffic stop and one of its officers shot the woman.
Check back for updates.
This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM.
