Community holds candle-lighting event for injured officer

Seneca Journal | November 21, 2023

SENECA — Hundreds showed up to Shaver Recreation Complex on Sunday to show their support for an injured law enforcement officer by participating in a candle-lighting event.

Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Lucas Watts was shot during an attempted traffic stop on Thursday, and as of Monday was stable but in critical condition.

The crowd sang along to “Amazing Grace,” then Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, with Seneca Police Chief Casey Bowling by his side, spoke to the crowd about Watts before sheriff’s office chaplain Bobby Holcombe closed out the event with a prayer for Watts’ healing.

Sheriff Mike Crenshaw later told The Journal he was “overwhelmed” at the outpouring of support of community members, not only at the event but also over the past few days.

“In all of our lifetimes, we’ve never experienced ‘shots fired, officer down.’ We’ve never had that situation ever at the sheriff’s office,” Crenshaw said. “From Thursday, the time this incident happened, 2:19 p.m., until today, we have been very humbled and just overwhelmed at the support in our community, our state … across the nation, of our folks that are praying for Lucas Watts.”

“From the time this incident happened, I can’t tell you the hundreds and hundreds of citizens, either personally calling, emailing, texting, social media that have said, ‘you’re in our thoughts and prayers, we’re praying for Lucas Watts,’” he added.

Crenshaw said he was appreciative of all the support his office has received and asked community members to keep Watts in their thoughts and prayers.

“[I] just ask that you continue to pray for Lucas going forward,” he said. “If you don’t pray but one time a day, pray at 2:19 p.m., because that’s the time the traffic comes across our radio, ‘shots fired, officer down.’”

Rashad Crooks, who helped organize the event and is an investigator with the sheriff’s office and a friend of Watts, said Sunday’s turnout brought “a lot of joy” to his heart. 

“Oconee County is a ‘Back the Blue’ county, and that’s something that I’m very, very thankful for and so are the other law enforcement officers,” Crooks said. “But it’s not just Oconee County that’s showing support, it’s people from all around the Upstate or around the state showing support for Lucas, and I know his family’s thankful for the support he has received.” 

Crooks also encouraged the community to keep Watts in their thoughts and prayers.

“I’m a man of faith and there’s been a lot of prayers that have been given out for this situation. I know a lot of people are getting down on their knees and praying … just very thankful for that,” he said. “I really feel like prayer is the key and there’s no problem too big for God, and I feel like this is a problem God can solve.” 

A CaringBridge account has been set up to provide further updates on Watts’ condition. Watts’ page can be accessed by going to CaringBridge’s homepage at caringbridge.org and searching for Watts’ name.