South Carolina cops fatally shoot motorist after dispute at Hurricane Matthew evacuation checkpoint

A South Carolina man was fatally shot by police at a checkpoint during a Hurricane Matthew evacuation on Wednesday, CBS News reports.

According to Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis, the 35-year-old motorist, named Lucas M. Felkel reportedly shot at the deputies after fleeing the checkpoint in Moncks Corner during the evacuation.

During a press conference on Wednesday, investigators noted that Felkel was "apparently agitated over an evacuation route," WCSC reports.

Officials said that the driver pulled up to the checkpoint on the evacuation route on Wednesday evening around 5:30 p.m. ET, the New York Daily News reports.

After speaking to at least one deputy, Felkel knocked down some of the traffic cones before speeding off.

Lewis said it was unclear what Felkel had said to officers at the time but that they reportedly felt they were in danger. He said, "[Felkel's] actions placed the officers in danger. The Moncks Corner police called the sheriff’s office for assistance and we responded and picked up the chase on Old Highway 52.”

Lewis added that at one point, the motorist allegedly "drove in a reckless manner toward the officers," WCSC reports.

After officers caught up with Felkel a few miles down the road, he allegedly pulled a gun on them and started shooting. The officers shot back and wounded the man, who was taken to a hospital where he later died around 7 p.m.

Four deputies have been placed on administrative leave while the State Law Enforcement Division investigates the incident.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley held a press conference on Thursday urging the state's coastal communities to evacuate and move inland ahead of Hurricane Matthew's arrival this weekend.

As of Thursday, 175,000 people had evacuated; however, state officials expected 250,000 to relocate ahead of the storm. Haley said, "That’s not enough. We need to have more people evacuating.