Crime
Victim in Anderson County VFW Mass Shooting Identified as 35-Year-Old Laporshia Cobb
As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects have been publicly identified.
A community Juneteenth celebration in Anderson County turned tragic Saturday night when gunfire erupted near the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post on Scarborough Road, leaving one woman dead and at least ten others injured.
According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began as a fight among individuals attending the event and quickly escalated into a mass shooting.
Hundreds of people were gathered in the area for the celebration when multiple gunshots rang out, sending attendees running for cover and creating widespread panic.
Shale Remien, spokesperson for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, said authorities were faced with a chaotic and rapidly evolving situation. “What we do know is that multiple shots rang out, with multiple people hurt all at the same time,” she said. “People were taken from the scene by others in their own vehicles. That’s why you see clothing, debris, and personal items scattered everywhere.”
Emergency responders said one person died at the scene. The victim was later identified by the Anderson County Coroner’s Office as 35-year-old Laporshia Janae Gray Cobb, of Anderson.
She died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Her death has been ruled a homicide.
Among the ten others injured, one individual was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital in critical condition, while eight others were transported to local hospitals in Anderson for emergency treatment.
The extent of their injuries has not yet been released.
As first responders and investigators arrived at the scene, nearby roads were clogged with parked vehicles from attendees, many of which were illuminated by flashing emergency lights well into Sunday morning.
A South Carolina Highway Patrol cruiser was reportedly struck during the response and had to be towed from the scene, along with numerous other vehicles.
“Chaos is an understatement when it comes to this scene,” Remien said. “That’s why you see how large this area is.”
Crime scene investigators worked through the night, combing the area for evidence.
Dozens of shell casings were found on the ground, and evidence markers were scattered throughout the parking lot and surrounding area.
A bystander, who wished to remain anonymous, described how the celebration had started on a positive note but took a horrifying turn. “We were coming together just to celebrate each other and enjoy one another,” the man said. “It was good—until it wasn’t.”
“You could tell people came together for the right reasons,” Remien added. “Unfortunately, that took a turn very quickly.”
As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects have been publicly identified.
Authorities believe multiple individuals may be responsible for the shooting.
The motive remains unclear, and investigators have not confirmed whether the violence was directly related to the Juneteenth celebration.
“This scene is far from being wrapped up,” Remien stated. “We will be investigating for quite a while.”
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information or video footage from the area to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.