A man described as a “complete stranger” will spend the next three decades behind bars for opening fire on a teenager inside a South Carolina Walmart.
Stephen Foreman, 35, was sentenced to 33 years in prison after pleading guilty but mentally ill to attempted murder and weapon possession charges. The court also ordered him to receive long-term mental health treatment while in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
The shooting occurred on June 7, 2023, at a store on Whiskey Road. Court documents state that Ashley Rickard was shopping with her 13-year-old daughter, Ashton, when Foreman approached them.
Without any provocation, he shot the girl with a .45 caliber Colt 1911. The bullet caused catastrophic injuries, tearing through her internal organs before lodging near her spine. The victim’s mother said Ashton remained conscious during the attack, fully aware of the severity of her wounds.
While the criminal case has concluded, the aftermath involves ongoing civil litigation.
According to WRDW/WAGT, Ashley Rickard has filed a lawsuit against both Foreman and his mother, Stephanie Foreman, who owned the gun used in the attack.
The suit claims Stephanie Foreman failed to properly secure the weapon despite knowing her son had a history of violence and mental instability. It also references a 2019 incident in which Stephen allegedly held his own family hostage with a sawed-off shotgun.
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