A violent incident occurred at a Walmart store in Aiken, South Carolina, in which a 13-year-old girl was shot while shopping with her mother on the evening of Wednesday, June 7.
The incident unfolded at approximately 7:30 pm, eliciting a response from the Aiken County Department of Public Safety after receiving reports of an active shooter on the premises.
Eyewitnesses on the scene relayed a terrifying narrative, with one individual, Kari Johnson, detailing how the attacker targeted the young girl without any warning. The Augusta Press identified the injured girl as Ashton Rickard, who was wounded in her arm and abdomen. Emergency surgery was performed, and her condition could necessitate more surgeries.
Law enforcement officers apprehended the alleged shooter, identified as 32-year-old Stephen Foreman. The police did not find any pre-existing connection between Foreman and the victim. He now faces charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon while committing a violent crime.
The driving force behind Foreman’s atrocious act remains unknown as investigative efforts persist. Ashley Rickard, the mother of the victim, detailed the severity of her daughter’s injuries, disclosing that one bullet shattered her arm and remains lodged in her back.
