13-year-old girl shot at Walmart & man who intended to kill her is arrested, SC cops say

A 13-year-old girl was injured Wednesday night in a shooting at a South Carolina Walmart store and a man was arrested, the Aiken Department of Public Safety said.

Stephen Foreman, a 32-year-old Aiken resident, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, the department of public safety said Thursday.

At about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a report of gunfire at the Walmart at 2035 Whiskey Road, the department of public safety said in a news release. That’s near downtown Aiken.

Officers found the child who suffered gunshot wounds in the abdomen and arm, according to an incident report. The child was semiconscious, pale and displaying symptoms of shock. The officers provided aid until EMS took the child to an area hospital, according to the release. Further information on the victim’s condition was not available, and there was no word if her injuries are considered life threatening.

While officers were responding to the Walmart, Foreman called the department of public safety and said he was at the KFC fast food restaurant less than half a mile away, according to the incident report. Foreman was taken into custody and booked at the Aiken County Detention Center, the incident report said.

No bond has been set and Foreman remains behind bars, jail records show.

Foreman told officers he discarded a gun on a shelf in the Walmart, and a black Colt 1911 semi-automatic handgun was found on the bottom shelf of the cards section, the incident report said. While processing the crime scene, officers found a .45 caliber shell casing.

Despite the arrest and charges, police said they didn’t know why Foreman shot the teen girl.

“There is no known relationship between the victim and the suspect,” the department of public safety said. “There is also no known motive at this time. This investigation remains active and ongoing.”

When the shooting was first reported, the department of public safety said there was no danger to the public.

In an unrelated incident, a body was found on the property of the Walmart Supercenter on Garners Ferry Road Tuesday, according to the Columbia Police Department.

The body was discovered inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of the Walmart, and no foul play is suspected, police said.