Police identify 2 killed in shooting at Rock Hill smoke shop

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Two people have died and a third person was hurt after a shooting at a smoke shop in Rock Hill, according to the Rock Hill Police Department. One person has been arrested. 

Police responded to Budiman’s Smokeshop & Art Gallery on Cherry Road around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday after reports that shots had been fired. As officers drove to the scene, they learned the suspect was a white man in a silver Dodge. 

When they got there, officers saw the man get in a truck with a gun and drive north on Cherry Road before crashing at the bridge over the Catawba River. 

Officers confronted the man when he got out of the truck, Rock Hill Police say. At one point, an officer fired their gun at the man but did not hit him. The man then charged toward officers and officers used a stun gun on him, and officers said there was a physical struggle. 

Officers eventually subdued the man and took him into custody. 

Rock Hill Police officers at the original scene found three victims inside the business, all with gunshot wounds. Two people died at the scene. They have been identified as 27-year-old Celci Johnson, an employee of the business, and 49-year-old Emad Thabet Saadalla, a customer. A third victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment. 

A fourth person ran away from the business during the incident and was not hurt.

A witness to the incident told WCNC Charlotte he was going into the store until he noticed what was taking place. 

“I’m always seeing crazy stuff so I said let me record and see what’s going to happen,” Cran Neely, the witness, said. “[The suspect] came out, shot the side of the window, shot in the air, and then when he saw me looking he said – ‘ahhh’ and started shooting at me.”

He said he was the one who made the 911 call. 

The suspect, since identified as 28-year-old Zachary East Elias of Columbia, was taken to the Rock Hill jail and issued two warrants for murder, two warrants for attempted murder, and a warrant for possession of a weapon during a crime of violence. 

The highway was shut down until around 3 a.m. Thursday during the investigation, but has since reopened. 

The incident is still under investigation at this time. 

The community has since set up a Christmas drive for the children of the victims. Organizers are asking for donations through December 13th. Anyone wanting to donate can drop items off at Richie’s Italian Bistro in Riverwalk.

For more information, you can contact the organizer at (803)327-4992.

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