Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
Officers from the Beaufort Police Department were dispatched to Shepherd Tactical, a gun shop located on Burton Hill Road, at approximately 12:09 p.m. Saturday, after a report came in that a person had suffered a gunshot wound. The call drew a heavy police presence to the area for much of the afternoon. Despite fleeing the scene, a teen was arrested following the shooting at Shepherd Tactical in Beaumont, SC.
When officers reached the scene, they discovered the victim had already transported themselves to a local hospital prior to law enforcement's arrival. The victim's current condition has not been publicly disclosed by authorities. BPD confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody shortly after and that there is no threat to the broader public.
Nasir Raphael Thomas, 19, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody following the incident. Thomas now faces a serious slate of criminal charges: attempted murder, aggravated breach of peace, pointing and presenting a firearm, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The Beaufort Police Department confirmed Saturday evening that an investigation into the incident remains active. No further details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting — or the relationship between Thomas and the victim — have been released at this time. Additional information is expected as the investigation develops.
The factual information above was sourced from wsav.com as of June 1, 2026.
The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
Shootings that occur inside or around firearms retailers raise legal questions that most families are entirely unprepared to face. Beyond the criminal process, victims and their families may have civil legal options that are far less understood — and far more time-sensitive than many people realize. Our team sat down with crime victim attorney Michael Haggard to discuss what the law allows, who can be held accountable, and why acting quickly can make all the difference.
Editor Darla Medina: When a shooting happens at a gun shop, most people assume the only legal process is the criminal one. Is that the full picture?
Attorney Michael Haggard: Not at all. The criminal case is the state's case — it is about punishing the person who pulled the trigger. A civil case is entirely separate, and it belongs to the victim and the victim's family. Those are two very different roads, and families have every right to walk both of them at the same time.
Medina: Who beyond the shooter could potentially be held responsible in a civil claim?
Haggard: That is one of the first questions we ask. Gun shops, like any business, have a legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment for customers and employees. If there is evidence that the business failed to take reasonable security precautions, failed to properly supervise or screen individuals handling firearms on the premises, or ignored warning signs that a dangerous situation was developing, there may be a viable negligence claim against the establishment itself.
Medina: What would you tell a family that is overwhelmed right now and does not know where to start?
Haggard: I would tell them that the most important thing they can do is consult with an attorney before they speak with anyone representing the other side — and before too much time passes. Evidence disappears. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. South Carolina does have a statute of limitations, and waiting too long can cost a family options they did not even know they had. A consultation costs nothing, but it can change everything.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a shooting, the decisions made in the days and weeks that follow can shape the outcome of any legal claim. Evidence fades, footage disappears, and deadlines under South Carolina law are unforgiving. You do not have to navigate this alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you understand every option available to you before time runs out.
info@legalherald.com