ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — On Saturday, the Orangeburg County Fair shut down early due to multiple incidents, including a shooting outside the fair gates.
Fairgoers were asked to leave around 10:35 pm and, while exiting, there was gunfire in the parking lot.
According to an incident report, a 17-year-old has been charged with assault and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Ashley Keitt went to the fair and says she hopes to be able to go again in the future.
“I want to see it grow with more fun events and all that," said Keitt. "And people together, everybody coming as one, being happy and not doing all that rah rah stuff.”
Brenda Harley says she has great memories growing up going to the fair.
“Going to the fair was always a great thing with my parents and me because we always went out as a group, and it was always a family fun time for us, and we had great times there," said Harley.
But now, she says she won’t go back.
“I would never feel safe taking my grandkids to the Orangeburg Fair," said Harley, just to maintain the safety out there, that’s the biggest thing is safety.”
News 19 reached out to Orangeburg County Fair Director Lin Hair about safety protocols. He said the incident is still under investigation.
The day after the shooting, the fair released a statement saying,
“The board of directors of the Orangeburg county fair association is reviewing this incident in depth to see if there are changes that should be made to further ensure the safety and well-being of our patrons, our staff, and our community.”
The county fair also stated that the gunshot victim was taken to the hospital for non life threatening injuries.