15-year-old suspect in Lancaster Walmart shooting to stay in jail, judge rules ...Middle East

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A 15-year-old boy accused of being involved in a shootout at a Lancaster County Walmart will remain behind bars for now.

The teen appeared before a judge Thursday, but despite his defense team’s plea for his release until trial, the judge denied the request.

This teen is one of six people facing serious charges in connection with the incident. According to Lancaster Police, the chaos began when the 15-year-old allegedly threw a punch, sparking a fight between two rival groups.

Moments later, three people reportedly pulled out guns, and shots rang out inside the store.

Police said the groups are tied to two opposing gangs, and the confrontation escalated into gunfire that left shoppers and employees scrambling for safety.

The boy’s lawyer painted a different picture in court, saying his client wasn’t there to cause trouble. Instead, the attorney said the teen was simply shopping for fishing gear with his sister and girlfriend when things took a turn.

Despite that claim, the 15-year-old is now facing multiple charges, including attempted murder.

The case is still developing, and more court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks as investigators work to untangle the details of what exactly led to the gunfire.

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