Crime
1 killed, 6 injured after shooting outside Qulture nightclub in Florence
FLORENCE, S.C. — The Florence County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a mass shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, May 12, outside the Qulture nightclub located in the 3000 block of East Palmetto Street, which resulted in one fatality and six additional victims suffering gunshot wounds.
According to Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye, deputies responded to the scene following reports of a large disturbance that escalated into gunfire in the nightclub’s parking lot.
Preliminary information indicates that a fight broke out among individuals outside the club before shots were fired into the crowd.
Seven people were struck by gunfire during the incident. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining six victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
As of this time, the conditions of the surviving victims have not been released, and their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Authorities are working to determine the circumstances that led to the altercation and to identify those responsible.
No arrests have been made as of yet, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact their office or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.