CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 27-year-old Willie Bernard Wright was in court Tuesday, accused of shooting a South Carolina Trooper in Rock Hill Sunday night.
According to SC Highway Patrol, Trooper Paul Wise attempted to stop Wright for not wearing a seat belt around 7:45 p.m. Sunday on India Hook Road.
Wright failed to stop before he finally pulled over and got out of the car, Leroy Smith, the director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said Sunday. When Wright stepped out of the vehicle, Smith said he opened fire at Trooper Wise.
Wright faced a North Carolina judge as he had been in a North Carolina hospital. The District Attorney's office argued for, and was granted, a million dollar bond -- calling Wright a danger to society who could kill someone if allowed back out on the street.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents and York County's solicitor came to Charlotte for the hearing.
"If he were not to return to court and had to be apprehended, there would be grave concerns about safety for the officers that were charged with that responsibility," said Kevin Brackett, South Carolina's 16th Circuit Solicitor.
Trooper Wise was able to return a single shot, hitting Wright in the arm, officials say.
"My client maintains his innocence," said Todd Rutherford, Trooper Wise's attorney. "There are some pretty steep accusations and he looks forward to his day in court to refute those accusations if given the opportunity."
Prosecutors say before the trooper could get out of his car, Wright got out and opened fire at the Trooper's car, allegedly shooting 10 to 12 times -- three of the bullets piercing the windshield and one of them hitting Trooper Wise in the chest.
"These are very real threats that these men and women are facing every single day," Brackett said.
Trooper Wise was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Prosecutors say if the bullets hadn't had to go through a windshield first, they would've been powerful enough to pierce the bulletproof vest and kill Trooper Wise.
The prosecutor claims the bullets, known to some as "cop killer" bullets, travel at twice the speed. Additionally, the prosecutor argued officers should not be put in a position to ever try to apprehend Wright again, saying someone could be killed.
"I wasn't aware of the existence of these kinds of bullets, obviously a scary situation," Brackett said.
Up next is an extradition hearing, so he can eventually answer to all the charges in North Carolina. South Carolina's governor has to reach out to North Carolina's governor to request extradition. According to the solicitor, that process is underway.
"Everyone is concerned, including Mr. Wright, about this situation and making sure that something like this never happens in the future," Rutherford said.