SPARTANBURG, SC – A late-night confrontation near an elementary school in Spartanburg ended in a shooting after police say a man allegedly rammed another vehicle and attempted to forcibly remove a woman from it.
Officers were called around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to the 400 block of Powell Mill Road near Jesse S. Bobo Elementary School. As reported by FOX Carolina, responding officers found deputies and campus security already providing aid to an injured man near a black sedan while the area was secured.
According to the Spartanburg Police Department, the incident began earlier when a woman was at her home outside city limits with a male friend. Police say her ex-boyfriend, identified as 19-year-old Noel Leal-Resendiz, arrived and became upset that the friend was present.
Investigators said the woman left the home with her friend in an effort to avoid further confrontation. The friend drove while the woman rode in the passenger seat.
Police allege Leal-Resendiz followed the pair in his own vehicle. As the two vehicles approached the entrance of Jesse S. Bobo Elementary School, investigators say Leal-Resendiz struck their vehicle, causing both cars to spin out before coming to rest about 30 feet past the school entrance.
According to statements gathered at the scene, Leal-Resendiz then exited his vehicle and approached the passenger side of the car, attempting to forcibly remove the woman despite being told to leave her alone.
During the altercation, the male driver produced a firearm and fired a single round, striking Leal-Resendiz in the chest, police said.
Authorities say Leal-Resendiz attempted to return to his vehicle but collapsed in the roadway. First responders arrived shortly afterward and provided medical aid before emergency personnel transported him for treatment.
Police later charged Leal-Resendiz with two counts of attempted murder, as well as kidnapping and first-degree assault and battery. He is currently being held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center and was denied bond during a Wednesday hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Spartanburg Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
According to investigators, the situation escalated from a domestic dispute into a violent encounter involving a vehicle collision and an alleged attempt to forcibly remove a passenger from a car. Incidents like this highlight how quickly confrontations can develop into situations involving an imminent threat of serious bodily harm. When an aggressor demonstrates escalating violence, including using a vehicle and attempting to physically seize another person, the ability of a lawful individual to respond and stop the threat can play a critical role in protecting life and ending the danger.