Authorities in Anderson County, South Carolina, are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on June 21 during a Juneteenth celebration along Scarborough Road, about 36 miles southwest of Greenville.
What began as a peaceful community gathering devolved into chaos when an argument in a parking lot escalated into gunfire, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement responded around 10 p.m., finding a scene of mass confusion with hundreds fleeing, and shoes and debris scattered across the roadway.
One woman, identified as Laporshia Janae Gray Cobb, 35, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Several others transported themselves to nearby hospitals.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the incident happened just outside a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post, which was not affiliated with the event.
Detectives have “pinpointed persons of interest” and are asking the public to provide information through Anderson Area Crime Stoppers.
Gunfire Erupts at Tulsa Juneteenth Festival, Leaving One Dead and Seven Injured
In a separate but similarly tragic incident, Tulsa police responded to gunfire during the Tulsa Juneteenth Festival held in the city’s historic Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street.
Gunshots rang out around 11 p.m. on June 21, prompting widespread panic.
Officers found that a 22-year-old man had died under an overpass, and seven others, including a 17-year-old and an elderly woman, were shot. One 24-year-old male remains in critical condition.
The Greenwood neighborhood, along with parts of the Blue Dome District, was placed under lockdown as police worked to regain control.
Officers and firefighters successfully stabilized the area, but witnesses were reluctant to share information, complicating the investigation.
Authorities believe there were at least two shooters, but no suspects have been named and the intended targets remain unclear.
City Leaders Condemn Violence, Promise Stronger Response
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols condemned the incident and the broader trend of recent gun violence, referencing shootings at three additional locations across the city that same weekend.
“This pattern of brazen lawlessness must be stopped,” said Nichols. “We cannot normalize this kind of harm in our community.”
Nichols announced plans to intensify police presence downtown and expand long-term violence prevention strategies, including youth engagement and community intervention programs.
Event Organizers and Law Enforcement Continue Investigations
Organizers of the Tulsa Juneteenth Festival confirmed their cooperation with police and said all further programming was canceled out of respect for the victims.
“Our security and medical teams responded immediately,” said festival representatives. “We ask for prayers for the community and those impacted.”
Two Juneteenth celebrations—one in South Carolina and another in Oklahoma—were tragically disrupted by gun violence, leaving communities grieving and law enforcement scrambling for answers.
With multiple casualties and ongoing investigations, city leaders are calling for both justice and renewed commitment to public safety and community healing.