A South Carolina woman fatally shot by a stranger in the parking lot of a grocery store this week leaves behind a young son and grieving husband, WIS-TV reports.
Around 4 p.m. Tuesday – Valentine’s Day – Alexandria Cress Borys was packing groceries in her vehicle outside a Kroger in Irmo, South Carolina, when she was shot in the back.
Police say the shooter, 23-year-old Christina Harrison, fired the weapon after she and Borys had some sort of verbal argument, details of which have not been released. The two did not know each other.
Harrison shot the 26-year-old mother as her 2-year-old boy and an infant were inside the vehicle. Borys had been shopping with her sister-in-law in addition to a niece and nephew, according to WIS-TV.
After firing the gun, Harrison reportedly fled the grocery store in a white Ford and first responders rushed to the scene, only to declare Borys dead.
Harrison reportedly turned herself in to police within an hour and a half of pulling the trigger and has been charged with murder, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. She is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center.
Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale described the killing as “senseless,” WLTX-TV reports.
“Unfortunately, this is a situation where tempers flared, and someone let anger get the best of them. One rash decision has impacted the lives of two families and countless others who witnessed this tragic event.” Dale said in the statement posted to Facebook. “Senseless is the only word I can think of to describe what happened today.”
The violent and abrupt death compounded tragedy for Borys’ family, who was already grieving the loss of her brother after he died from a gunshot wound just six days earlier, according to WIS-TV.
Borys was a cosmetologist and was exploring a potential career in nursing. Her husband, Tyler, told WACH-TV that she was the “best wife you could ever ask for.”
“She was also a great mother,” he told the television station.
The widower is raising money to honor his wife’s memory, writing on a GoFundMe page: “A beautiful woman, wonderful mother, compassionate wife, trusting friend, and so so much more. Alexandria was truly taken too soon.
“We are not looking for personal donations or financial help. But there has been enough people asking so I’d like to use any funds collected to build a memorial for Alexandria to honor a great soul. Wether it be something small, a park installment, or wherever we can do.
“Anything additional will go towards a future fund to benefit our son. Thank you all for your thoughts. Hold your loved ones close.”
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[Featured image: Alexandria Cress Borys/GoFundMe]
