Woman Fatally Shot on I-26 in Newberry County, Suspect Apprehended After Standoff
NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. – A tragic shooting unfolded Monday morning on Interstate 26 in Newberry County, South Carolina, leaving a woman dead and a 45-year-old man in custody following a pursuit and tense standoff near a local golf course.
Suspect Identified and Captured Near Golf Course
According to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began near Exit 82, the SC-773/Prosperity exit. Authorities say 45-year-old Wilfrido George Luna, a resident of West Columbia, allegedly shot a woman while the two were inside a vehicle on the interstate.
After the shooting, Luna reportedly exited the SUV and fled across the highway. Deputies responded quickly to the scene and launched a pursuit. Luna was eventually tracked to the Mid-Carolina Country Club, where he was located following a brief standoff. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Golf Club Shutdown During Search
The country club’s staff quickly took action once notified of the danger. Scott Crouch, general manager of the Mid-Carolina Country Club, recalled the tense moments:
“He was here really nearby and they were looking for him, so we needed to go on shutdown… They actually apprehended him right here so, he was literally right here at the entrance. Luckily we got everybody off the golf course by the time we did.”
Once the suspect was arrested and the scene secured, operations at the club resumed.
Schools Temporarily Locked Down
As a precaution, authorities placed Mid-Carolina High School, Mid-Carolina Middle School, and Prosperity-Richardson School on lockdown. The measure lasted about 30 minutes and was lifted once the area was deemed safe.
Investigation Underway into Motive and Events
The name of the victim has not yet been released. Sheriff Lee Foster noted that investigators are working to determine the events that led to the fatal shooting and the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victim. Authorities currently believe the incident was isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
In a surprising detail, Sheriff Foster said the situation also involved a tractor-trailer, although the exact nature of its role remains unclear.
“Somehow or another there’s a tractor trailer involved… They were in a small SUV. Both of them exited the SUV, the suspect was able to flag down the tractor trailer truck and it was involved in it, but we’re not exactly sure how.”
Stay with SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for updates on this developing case as more information becomes available.
