SC police: Video shows 15-year-old pointed gun during Lancaster Walmart shootout
South Carolina police and prosecutors said in court Wednesday there is store video that shows a 15-year-old boy pointing a gun during the shootout April 1 inside a Lancaster Walmart store.
Police said the confrontation appears to have been spontaneous when two groups with gang ties in Lancaster met up in the aisle of the store, Lancaster Police Department Capt. Nelson Bowling testified in a Family Court hearing in Chester for the 15-year-old, who faces attempted murder and other charges.
Video also shows two other people pointing guns in the shootout, where 11 rounds were fired from three guns in the sporting goods area of the store, Bowling testified. The shots caused others in the store — which had as many as 200 people in it — to run for the exits. No employees or other customers were hit by gunfire.
Just one of the six people arrested was shot, Bowling said. Another of the six was hit by shrapnel from debris, he said. No injuries were life-threatening, he said.
“Only by the grace of God we didn’t have any more injuries,” Bowling told prosecutor Melissa McGinnis of the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Wednesday’s hearing for the only juvenile charged
The 15-year-old faces two counts of attempted murder, breach of peace, and possession of a pistol by someone under age 18, McGinnis said.
He was not injured and has been in custody since he turned himself in April 5, prosecutors said.
Wednesday’s hearing required Family Court Judge Debra Matthews to determine if police had probable cause to arrest him and if he should remain in juvenile jail pending trial.
The Herald is not identifying him because of his age.
Investigator describes fight
The teen allegedly threw a punch at another of the six after he and a man from the other group bumped shoulders in an aisle. Then the 15-year-old pulled out the gun, Bowling testified.
He admitted in a statement to police to having the gun at the store, Bowling testified.
The groups knew each other from school and social media, Bowling testified.
McGinnis told the judge that the teen is a “documented gang member” who already has a previous juvenile conviction and presents a danger to the public if released. His actions put others in the store at risk, McGinnis said.
The teen “had no problem” finding a gun and “pulling it out in the busiest store in Lancaster in the middle of the day,” McGinnis told Judge Matthews.
Defense: Possible the other group started the problem
The boy’s lawyer, public defender Mark Grier, played part of a store video for Bowling that was not shown to the media and others in the courtroom. Grier contended his client was at Walmart with his girlfriend, his sister, and his brother. Grier said it appears the other group initiated the confrontation.
Grier said it is “common sense” the aggressors were in the other group.
Grier asked the judge to release the teen pending trial on a GPS monitor.
The boy’s mother said in court that her son was targeted by the other group of young men.
Two of the five older teens arrested are charged with attempted murder.
What happens next?
Prosecutors are seeking to try the 15-year-old as an adult. That means he could face much harsher punishment if convicted. Any sentence in juvenile court ends at age 22. In adult court, punishment could be as much as 30 years in prison if convicted of attempted murder.
Only a Family Court judge can issue an order to have a child face charges as an adult. And before a hearing is held to see if that can happen, a juvenile must be evaluated by state officials.
The teen and his lawyer have the right to challenge any attempt to have him face an adult trial.
