(Editor’s Note: Anderson County Sheriff’s Office has corrected the number of victims from three to two.)
ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) – Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a gas station shooting that injured two people Monday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded to reports of a shooting at the Stop-A-Minit gas station and convenience store (formerly Eddie’s Mini Mart) at 3300 Abbeville Highway in Anderson around 12:30 p.m.
“I probably heard about eight gunshots and that’s all,” said witness Gay Stanley. “I found out it was a friend of mine’s boyfriend,” she said.
Two people were shot in the parking lot, deputies said. Both were taken to the hospital with injuries. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“One [victim] was transported to the hospital by EMS at the scene. Another victim that was taken to the hospital, arrived in a personal car that our detectives were able to talk to them there,” said Shale Remien, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer. “Now we can say that one of those victims was actually arrested and taken into custody.”
Investigators said everyone involved in the shooting knew each other.
“There were multiple people involved who were shooting at the time, but then, only two people – that we know of – that were shot,” Remien said.
“This was not a random shooting where random victims were hit. This is a group where they all know each other, and something that our deputies can focus on and will focus on in the future,” Remien said.
This poses bigger concerns for some in the area.
“They always play with guns out here and that’s how you wind up dying you know. Guns ain’t really nothing to play with you know,” Stanley said. “That’s what these younger crowds want to do today, is play with these guns.”
7NEWS has reported on shootings in this same area in the past. One of which, Stanley remembers well.
“On Father’s Day, a friend of mine name Shane Ware got killed over here,” she said.
Stanley said shootings are common in her area.
“It’s like a drug-infested area,” Stanley said.
In regards to this case, investigators are still working to get to the bottom of it all.
“Right now, we can’t confirm if it’s gang activity or not. Investigators are still looking into that,” Remien said.
“Right now, we’ve definitely monitored that area consistently. Thankfully, believe it or not, that area has calmed down recently. So, that’s something we’ve been happy to see, and so obviously, our deputies maintain that area, maintain security and trying to keep an eye on it,” Remien said.
The investigation is ongoing and details are limited at this time.
