Crime
41-year-old Brandon Parker accused of shooting ex-girlfriend at Walmart in Spartanburg
Authorities in Spartanburg have confirmed that a man was arrested following a violent shooting Tuesday night in the parking lot of a Walmart on Dorman Centre Drive.
The incident occurred on September 9, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m.
According to the Spartanburg Police Department, 41-year-old Brandon Parker allegedly opened fire on his ex-girlfriend as she drove through the parking lot.
Police reports state that after the victim was struck by an initial gunshot, she attempted to drive toward the front of the Walmart where a security officerโs vehicle was parked.
As she exited her vehicle to seek help, Parker allegedly fired additional rounds, hitting her again before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed.
The woman sustained gunshot wounds to her back and leg and was transported to a nearby hospital. Her condition has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Authorities launched a multistate search for Parker, who was located and taken into custody hours later in Kentucky, more than 300 miles from Spartanburg.
Spartanburg police, with assistance from Kentucky State Police, are coordinating his extradition and the return of collected evidence to South Carolina.
Police confirmed Parker will face several charges, including:
- Attempted murder
- Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
- Domestic violence
- Breach of peace
- Discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle
Witnesses described panic and confusion during the incident. One Walmart customer recalled hearing โfive loud gunshotsโ and said shoppers inside the store were โshocked and surprised, wondering what happened out there in the parking lot.โ
Following the shooting, officers secured the front of the store with crime scene tape as investigators processed evidence.
No other injuries were reported aside from the victim.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
The Spartanburg Police Department urges anyone with additional information to contact investigators at 864-596-2065 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.