A Greenville police officer survived an ambush-style attack early Sunday at the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center parking lot, where 42-year-old David William Lane allegedly fired incendiary “Dragon’s Breath” shotgun rounds at the patrol vehicle. The officer was hospitalized but released, while Lane died later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a pursuit and shootout.​
Incident Overview
Surveillance video captured Lane’s vehicle pulling alongside the officer’s cruiser before flashes and sparks hit the driver’s side, igniting parts of the car including the door and mirror. SLED is investigating the use of this rare ammunition, designed for maximum damage through burning.
Dragon’s Breath Ammunition
This novelty shotgun round, available since the 1980s, combines buckshot with incendiary material that ignites on firing, reaching temperatures around 1500°F and spraying sparks like a firework. While visually dramatic, it delivers lethal ballistic impact from the shot alongside fire risk, mainly at close range. Many shops avoid stocking it due to its impracticality beyond spectacle.
