Deputies said three people were wounded in a targeted attack at the State Road grocery store.
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — Three teenagers were arrested after deputies said gunfire broke out late Thursday inside a Cane Bay Publix, wounding an intended target, a shopper and a store employee as customers and workers ran for cover.
The shooting at the Publix at 1724 State Road rattled one of Berkeley County’s fast-growing communities just before Mother’s Day weekend. Investigators said the attack was targeted, not an active shooter event, but two bystanders were hit as the intended victim ran through the store. The case now centers on 17-year-old Antwan Green, who is charged as an adult, and two 16-year-old males whose names were not released because of their ages.
Deputies were called to the grocery store just before 9 p.m. Thursday after reports of shots fired. Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said the suspects entered the store looking for one person. Investigators said Green pulled a handgun after the group found the intended victim and began firing. The victim ran through the aisles while shoppers and employees were still inside. Jeremiah Riel said he was shopping with his 12-year-old and 8-year-old sons for Mother’s Day flowers and cards when he heard popping sounds. “It was complete chaos, just a frenzy,” Riel said. “Everybody just completely was tripping over themselves.”
The intended victim was shot at least twice and taken to surgery, authorities said. Two other people were also struck. Deputies said one was a woman shopping with her children, and the other was a Publix employee working near the self-checkout area. Their injuries were described as minor, while the intended victim’s injuries were more serious. The names of the three people who were shot had not been released as of Monday. Investigators said part of the gunfire moved through aisle 10 as the victim tried to get away. Officials had not publicly released a motive or said whether the suspects and intended victim knew each other before the shooting.
After the shooting, deputies said Green and one other suspect ran toward the back of the Cane Bay area near Black Tom Road. A third suspect went to a nearby gas station and tried to get a ride from a stranger, investigators said. Deputies said that person refused to drive him, ordered an Uber and later gave law enforcement information that helped them find the suspect. K-9 teams found Green while he was fleeing through the neighborhood, authorities said. The sheriff’s office said deputies arrived within one minute of being dispatched, and all three suspects were taken into custody within hours.
Green was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was taken to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center, where a judge later denied bond. The two 16-year-old suspects were charged as juveniles with accessory after the fact of a felony and taken to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. The charges are accusations, and the suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Court dates for the juvenile suspects had not been announced Monday. The investigation remains open as deputies review evidence, witness accounts and the sequence of events inside and outside the store.
The shooting also pushed frightened shoppers and workers into nearby businesses. Employees at Famulari’s Pizzeria, next to the Publix, said they helped shelter people who fled the grocery store. Britney Fromen, an employee at the restaurant, said someone came inside and reported the shooting while the pizzeria was busy. Workers gathered people inside, checked doors and watched windows. Pete Celia, the restaurant’s owner, said staff sheltered about 10 Publix employees and locked down the business while police secured the area. “We locked down the building, lowered the shades and jumped into action,” Celia said.
Residents said the shooting felt personal because the grocery store is part of daily life in Cane Bay. Mark Harris, who lives in the area, said many families know the people who work at the store. “This Publix is our daily grocery store,” Harris said. “We know the people that work there.” Harris said he and his wife brought pizza to Publix employees Friday as a show of support. Another resident, Christen Jones, said many people were relieved by the quick police response. Others described the shooting as unusual for the neighborhood, where the grocery store sits near homes, restaurants and other daily stops.
As of Monday, deputies had not released the victims’ names or a motive. Green remained charged as an adult, while the two younger suspects were moving through the juvenile justice system. Investigators said more details may come as the criminal cases move forward.
Author note: Last updated May 11, 2026.