A guy described as a “complete stranger” will spend the next three decades in prison after shooting a teenager inside a South Carolina Walmart.
Stephen Foreman, 35, was sentenced to 33 years in jail after pleading guilty but mentally ill to attempted murder and weapons possession. The court also ordered him to get long-term mental health treatment while in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
The shooting took place on June 7, 2023, in a store on Whiskey Road. According to court filings, Ashley Rickard was out shopping with her 13-year-old daughter, Ashton, when Foreman approached them.
He shot the girl without provocation with a.45 caliber Colt 1911. The bullet caused severe injuries, tearing through the child’s internal organs and lodged near her spine. The victim’s mother reported that Ashton stayed conscious during the incident and was fully aware of the severity of her injuries.
While the criminal case has been resolved, the aftermath includes extensive civil litigation.
According to WRDW/WAGT, Ashley Rickard has sued both the gunman and his mother, Stephanie Foreman, who owns the pistol used in the incident.
According to the lawsuit, Stephanie Foreman neglected to properly secure the weapon despite knowing her son’s history of violence and mental illness. The complaint describes a horrific 2019 incident in which Stephen allegedly held his own family captive with a sawed-off shotgun.
