South Carolina Sees More Shootings and Assaults in Public Businesses

A fresh slew of violence highlights how dangerous public businesses have become in South Carolina. Some of these recent incidents are already leading to lawsuits, showing that business owners are often to blame for failing to protect their own customers. If you have experienced a violent incident like this, you might consider speaking with a South Carolina premises liability lawyer about a potential lawsuit.

Woman Sues South Carolina Restaurant for Failing to Protect Her From Assault 

Back in April of 2025, a woman sued a South Carolina restaurant for allowing another customer to assault her. She also claims that the restaurant staff sold the aggressor considerable quantities of alcohol despite him being visibly intoxicated when arriving at the establishment.

The woman was assaulted, harassed, and “touched inappropriately” while the staff allegedly did nothing. At some point, a bystander managed to tear the man off the victim, pinning him against a wall. The staff then finally kicked the man out. However, they inexplicably allowed him to return a while later. When he once again started assaulting the woman, another customer called 911.

Mother and Son Arrested After Shooting at Columbia Mall

 In May of 2025, police arrested a mother and her 16-year-old son in connection with a shooting at the Columbia Mall. Authorities say that an 18-year-old was confronted by three other teens at the mall, and an exchange of fire followed. Although the mother of one of the teens did not participate in the shooting, she allegedly knew that her son was involved and gave investigators false information.

This is not the first time a shooting has occurred at the Columbia Mall, and it probably won’t be the last. South Carolina residents and lawmakers have expressed concerns about the rise in youth violence, especially in malls across the state.

Florence, South Carolina Sees Multiple Shootings on Mother’s Day 

In Florence, multiple shootings occurred on Mother’s Day in 2025. The first incident occurred at a Cook Out location, with both an employee and a customer drawing firearms on each other. The customer was shot and hospitalized, and both participants were arrested by police.

The second shooting occurred in the early hours of Mother’s Day at a nightclub. This incident left one person dead and several people wounded. Police aren’t sure why the patrons became violent, and there was no word on the severity of the injuries.

Can a Negligent Security Lawyer in South Carolina Help Me? 

If you were assaulted or shot while visiting a South Carolina business, you may be able to file a lawsuit. To learn more about this possibility, consider speaking with a South Carolina negligent security lawyer. Mickelsen & Dalton, LLC is an injury law firm that has considerable experience with these kinds of cases. Schedule your consultation today to get started.

Sources: 

live5news.com/2025/04/17/lawsuit-shem-creek-restaurant-failed-protect-patron-during-alleged-assault/

wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-mall-shooting-mother-son-arrested/64731649

wpde.com/news/local/argument-leads-to-shooting-inside-florence-restaurant

wbtw.com/news/pee-dee/florence-county/7-shot-1-dead-after-mothers-day-nightclub-shooting-in-florence/