One person was killed and three others were reportedly assaulted during a violent incident outside businesses in Chesnee, South Carolina, early Tuesday morning, October 27, 2026. A 24-year-old suspect was arrested and faces multiple criminal charges, according to authorities.
Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 6:45 a.m. to reports of an assault and shooting near the Food Lion grocery store on South Alabama Avenue.
Investigators said the incident involved several locations in the shopping area, including the Food Lion parking lot, a nearby Hardee’s and the Chesnee Car Wash.
Shooting Reported at Shopping Area
According to investigators, deputies were alerted that a man had been attacking people in the shopping area before their arrival.
Authorities said one woman was struck in the head with a firearm at the Food Lion, while another person was shot. Two additional people were reportedly pushed or physically assaulted near the Hardee’s.
Deputies subsequently located one person who had been shot and killed at the Chesnee Car Wash. Another shooting victim was found at the Food Lion and transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for treatment. That victim was expected to make a full recovery, according to local reports.
The sheriff’s office had not publicly identified the deceased victim in the initial reports.
The incident prompted a substantial law enforcement response, with crime-scene tape placed around several nearby businesses as investigators worked to document the scenes and gather evidence.
Suspect Taken Into Custody
Authorities detained 24-year-old Noah Ashton Kowalewsky at the scene in connection with the incident.
He was charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from possessing one, third-degree assault and battery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The charges reflect allegations against the suspect and do not constitute a finding of guilt. The case is expected to proceed through the criminal justice system.
Investigators have not publicly established a complete account of what led to the violence or disclosed all details concerning the relationships, if any, between the suspect and the victims.
Businesses Affected as Investigation Continues
The shooting and related assaults led authorities to secure portions of the commercial area while investigators examined evidence and worked to establish the sequence of events.
Food Lion remained closed for the day following the incident. Despite the law enforcement activity, officials from Spartanburg School District 2 said nearby schools were operating on their normal schedules, with school resource officers on campus as usual.
The sheriff’s office continued investigating the case, including the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and the reported assaults at the other locations.
The incident left one person dead and several others affected by the violence, raising concerns among people in the Chesnee community.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as the investigation and court proceedings progress.
