Rose Kewlani Obituary, Death – Authorities have released the identity of a woman who lost her life in a tragic shooting along Interstate 26 in Newberry County earlier this week. According to Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece, the victim was 52-year-old Rose Kewlani, a resident of West Columbia. She was fatally shot on Monday in the area of Exit 82. Law enforcement quickly launched an investigation, and a suspect was taken into custody not long after the incident.

The accused shooter has been identified as 45-year-old Wilfrido George Luna. Authorities allege that Luna shot Kewlani before fleeing the scene. After firing the fatal shots, Luna reportedly ran across both lanes of the interstate in the direction of the Mid Carolina Country Club. During his attempted escape, officials say Luna tried to carjack a nearby tractor-trailer truck. However, investigators clarified that the truck driver had no connection to the shooting. Sheriff Foster explained that Luna flagged down the truck but did not successfully carry out the carjacking attempt.

Following this attempt, Luna was tracked to the parking lot of the country club, where he was confronted by law enforcement officers. After a brief standoff, officers were able to take him into custody without further incident. He has since been charged with murder and faces additional charges related to the violent sequence of events.

The shooting also prompted widespread safety measures in the surrounding area. Scott Crouch, the General Manager of the Mid-Carolina Golf Course, explained that staff immediately activated their emergency protocols once the threat became apparent. He said the course used airhorns to alert people on the grounds. Employees then drove around in carts to ensure all players and staff were quickly gathered into safe areas such as the clubhouse and maintenance shop. Thanks to their efforts, everyone at the golf course remained safe during the ordeal.

The incident had ripple effects across the community. The School District of Newberry County confirmed that several schools were placed under precautionary safety measures while the situation unfolded. Mid-Carolina High School and Mid-Carolina Middle School were locked down, while Little Mountain Elementary, Pomaria-Garmany Elementary, and Prosperity-Rikard Elementary were placed in “Secure Mode.” These actions were taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure students and staff were protected. Later in the day, the district announced that all schools had returned to normal operations and reassured parents that no one was harmed.

The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Officials have not yet disclosed what may have motivated Luna to carry out the attack. Authorities continue to piece together the events that occurred before, during, and after the incident, including the exact role of the tractor-trailer truck that Luna attempted to involve in his escape.

As the community mourns the loss of Rose Kewlani, law enforcement has emphasized that the case remains active and developing. Updates will be provided as investigators work to clarify the full scope of what happened and pursue justice for the victim.