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Crime & Courts

South Carolina Grocery Store Slaying: Outrage Abounds

Valentine’s Day homicide started with a blind spot … ended in blind rage, police say.

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A 26-year-old mother was gunned down in the parking lot of a grocery store in Irmo, South Carolina on Valentine’s Day – a crime which is generating national attention (and prompting national outrage).

Alexandria Cress Borys – a local cosmetologist who was contemplating a career in nursing – was shot and killed shortly before 4:00 p.m. EST last Tuesday (February 14, 2023). Borys was murdered the parking lot outside the Irmo Station Kroger at 7467 Saint Andrews Road.

Multiple media outlets have reported Borys was with her two children at the time of the shooting, however her husband – Tyler Borys – told reporter Andrew Fancher of WIS TV-10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.) she was shopping at Kroger with “her sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.”

Law enforcement sources have confirmed two children were present at the time of the shooting – but have declined to identify them or specify their relation to the deceased.

(Click to View)

According to a statement from the Irmo police department, Borys was gunned down by 23-year-old Christina Harrison after the two had an argument in the Kroger parking lot.

“From the information gathered at the scene, it appears that the suspect and the victim did not know each other, however, they were involved in a verbal altercation just prior to the shooting,” the statement noted.

“Unfortunately, this is a situation where tempers flared, and someone let anger get the best of them,” Irmo police chief Bobby Dale said. “One rash decision has impacted the lives of two families and countless others who witnessed this tragic event. Senseless is the only word I can think of to describe what happened.”

Dale’s agency has not specified what precipitated the “verbal altercation.” Sources familiar with the shooting say it all started when a vehicle not involved in the dispute pulled into a fire lane near a liquor store adjacent to the Kroger. This vehicle is said to have obstructed the view of one of the two participants in the argument – a driver whose car nearly struck the other participant (a pedestrian) as they were walking into oncoming traffic.

After this near-collision, words and gestures were reportedly exchanged – and moments later Harrison shot and killed Borys in the parking lot, according to our sources.

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The entire incident was captured by surveillance cameras, law enforcement sources have confirmed to this news outlet. We are seeking to obtain this footage – along with other materials collected in connection with the Irmo police department investigation – under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Sources familiar with the shooting said Borys sustained an entrance wound to the side of her neck and an exit wound on the “other side of her head.” She died instantly from this single wound to the head, according to these sources.

According to Tyler Borys’ interview with WIS, his wife was “walking away” from Harrison at the time of the shooting and was “shot with her back turned” to Harrison.

After shooting and killing Borys, Harrison fled the scene in her vehicle – but was urged by family members to surrender herself to authorities, which she did at approximately 5:30 p.m. EST.

Harrison has been charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and the unlawful carrying of a firearm. Her case will be prosecuted by the office of S.C. eleventh circuit solicitor Rick Hubbard.

Harrison’s attorney – Derrick E. Mobley – waived an initial bond hearing scheduled for his client on the day after the shooting (February 15, 2023). Such initial bond hearings are perfunctory, however, as magistrate judges are not statutorily empowered to set bond on capital offenses in South Carolina.

Harrison will have a bond hearing before a state circuit court judge at a later date.

(Click to View)

Christina Harrison (Lexington County Detention Center)

As with anyone accused of committing any crime, Harrison is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system – or until such time as she may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges filed against her.

Tyler Borys has created a GoFundMe page in honor of his late wife, whom he referred to as “a beautiful woman, wonderful mother, compassionate wife, trusting friend, and so so much more.”

“Alexandria was truly taken too soon,” Borys wrote.

“We are not looking for personal donations or financial help,” Borys added. “But there (have) been enough people asking so I’d like to use any funds collected to build a memorial for Alexandria to honor a great soul. Whether it be something small, a park installment, or wherever we can do. Anything additional will go towards a future fund to benefit our son. Thank you all for your thoughts. Hold your loved ones close.”

Just six days before she was gunned down, Borys posted a note to her Facebook page mourning the death of her younger brother – who also succumbed to a gunshot wound.

“Rest up baby brother I’ll see you soon,” Borys wrote.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks on phone
Will Folks (Brett Flashnick)

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.

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Will Folks

33 comments

jbl1a February 19, 2023 at 7:11 pm

Would be deemed a hate crime if it were the other way around….

Reply
Rob February 20, 2023 at 1:28 pm

There are no hate crime laws in South Carolina.

Yes, black people are charged with hate crimes in states that have the laws. This is obvious if you do a second of research.

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Reality February 20, 2023 at 4:56 pm

Rob, I posted a reply to you but somehow it wound up below rather than underneath your comment.

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Oscar February 21, 2023 at 1:30 pm

There are federal hate crime laws that cover every state.

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Anonymous March 14, 2023 at 4:19 pm

Show me an example

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Kory April 3, 2023 at 9:51 pm

She should get life at the very least. She aimed for the head, which is proof that she intended to kill that woman. Because of the racial aspect, the spitting claim and the fact that she’s a woman, they probably wouldn’t want to go for the death penalty, although if the shooter was a man, they definitely would.

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Anonymous February 19, 2023 at 8:23 pm

usual suspect

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jingle February 19, 2023 at 11:00 pm

my name Jeff

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WhoWhatWhere? February 20, 2023 at 4:14 am

Who was her brother that died? Where was he killed? City, State?

Which was the pedestrian and which the driver?

The things modern “journalists” leave out of stories…

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Tina February 20, 2023 at 3:29 am

her dark soul will burn in hell

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Will February 21, 2023 at 10:22 pm

Take that back and never say anything like that, no matter what. For your own sake. Please.

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Bill February 20, 2023 at 9:34 am

Clearly a hate crime. To shoot someone in the back. Clearly murder. Solicitor should ask for the death penalty.

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Jonathan Dunn March 16, 2023 at 4:04 pm

I don’t know that they can prove premeditation. Even if they could, most states require the accompaniment of another crime.

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Gun Simp Free Zone February 20, 2023 at 10:57 am

People keep telling me an armed society is a polite society but all I see is people getting murdered at schools, movie theaters, grocery stores, malls, etc.

Guess the Good Guy With A Gun™ was in the bathroom again or something.

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Observer February 20, 2023 at 2:45 pm

The good guys might have been intimidated by all of the “Rob Me” signs found in so many Irmo businesses that prevent them from legally carrying, there. I don’t know if it is coincidence, or if elements of IPD are encouraging so many of these signs, but any business owner who places them on their business is a damn idiot. These signs will only discourage the law-abiding good guys, never the criminals such as the shooter in this incident. She didn’t care about going to prison for life for murder. She sure as he’ll won’t care about an added gun charge.

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Joe Whitmire February 20, 2023 at 4:42 pm

This murder will hopefully kill the Constitutional Carry bill. Can anyone imagine the chaos with so many impetuous people carrying guns.

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Observer February 20, 2023 at 5:11 pm

Hopefully it won’t. Unlike what you guys seem to hope for, with Wild West shootouts and plenty of injured or dead bystanders, states that have enacted permit less carry (aka “Constitutional” carry) Have noticed no uptick in violence beyond existing crime trends as police are further hamstrung and courts are unwilling to deal effectively with violent criminals. Some enjoy reduced rates of violent crime because criminals are not as protected by the legal system and anti-gun laws as they had been, previously.

A couple of years ago, some LE like SLED Chief Mark Keel and others were whining about how allowing open carry would create confusion and their officers wouldn’t know who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. Since open carry passed, I have only observed three citizens openly carrying firearms. In none of those cases did they create panic or generate a shootout. Restoration of rights long denied is not the bad thing some of you think it is.

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Nanker Phelge February 20, 2023 at 12:19 pm

Hey, all this will get much better when we get “constitutional” carry. It’ll be fun when all the Barney Fifes start pulling and shooting while trying to figure out just who the bad guy is!

I think Will should report these deaths like he did covid deaths…that they died “with” a gunshot wound because they probably had some condition that would cause death eventually.

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Q-cumber Brain February 20, 2023 at 1:12 pm

I’m surprised the anti-vax dudes aren’t claiming the vaccine did it because she “died suddenly.”

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Observer February 20, 2023 at 3:28 pm

I know the “Wild West” gunfire with lots of innocent bystanders hit is what you guys hope for Nanker, but the reality is, that just is not the case. 25 states now have permitless carry with more hopefully coming on board. Just about all of the “blood flowing in the streets” that you guys always predict, is the same miscreants who probably cannot legally possess a firearm to begin with because of prior criminal history.

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John C. King February 21, 2023 at 1:19 pm

On the FOX News site it says the shooting victim spat on the shooter, but this article characterizes the interaction before the shooting as “verbal” only. Hate crimes are crimes in which the perpetrator chooses to attack the victim because of their race, etc. They often make this clear by yelling racial epitaphs, for example. In this case I suspect the shooter would have shot at anyone regardless of color if they spat at her so this doesn’t seem like a hate crime.

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bob cl February 20, 2023 at 12:51 pm

dont give anyone a reason to shoot you- guns all around , i wish she had not turned in,
so cops could shoot her like a rabid animal

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Woah Nelly February 20, 2023 at 1:20 pm

Yeah, if she doesn’t turn herself in, it might result in her going several states away and being on the run for who knows how long, only God knows who else she might kill along the way. Maybe tone down the bloodthirsty Rambo fantasies and just be grateful she’s behind bars.

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Reality February 20, 2023 at 3:21 pm

No, not obvious at all. Posting links here will get your comment held “for moderation review” and never released. Therefore I will give you a couple of stories to Google.

“Murder of Jan Pawel and Quiana Jenkins Pietrzak”

“Murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom”

Hate crime laws create special, not equal, categories of protected people. If the perpetrator of a hate crime is black, gay, or a woman, chances are slim that they will be charged with a hate crime.

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Chi Sam February 21, 2023 at 4:54 am

If you don’t absolutely despise these people, you are either playing them for their vote or overcharging the dummies for common sundries.

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Chi Sam February 21, 2023 at 4:56 am

If you don’t absolutely despise these people, you are either pandering for their vote or way overcharging them for food and sundries.

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SubZeroIQ February 21, 2023 at 8:19 am

Too many guns, too much anger, and too much hate all around. Also, think of the over-abundance of guns in the Murdaugh properties and cars. What did Jesus Christ say about the sword? Full disclosure: I am posting what I said all along to also see if my comment will get through here now that my comments on Murdaugh stories get “held for review” then killed.

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Betty Boop February 21, 2023 at 10:05 am

Shameful

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asdf February 21, 2023 at 2:47 pm

Typical of these people

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Observer February 21, 2023 at 3:24 pm

I think Jesus said something to the effect that if you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and get one. Sounds like an endorsement of being prepared to defend yourself (and others) to me.

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SubZeroIQ February 22, 2023 at 11:45 pm

No, Jesus Christ said that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. And earlier the Bible says that unless the Lord watches over the house, in vain do the guards forgo sleep all night. The deeper meaning is that, in a truly civilized and moral society, no one wants to steal or kill. But if we replace sublimation of the soul with material weapons, those weapons will kill us instead of giving us eternal life. Biostatistics prove that the availability of a gun is a significant variable in turning suicidal thoughts into actual suicides.

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Chia February 26, 2023 at 11:04 pm

Even the circumstances about the event are everchanging and don’t add up. But one thing is for sure, it just goes to show that nobody carries a gun without the desire to kill. People are murdered every single day in all kinds of circumstances, but why is it that only CERTAIN victims of senseless violence are presented as tragic. Innocent people are MURDERED at the hands of hate-filled people everyday. Too bad we’ll die never knowing peace…

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Anonymous February 26, 2023 at 11:09 pm

Of course, she just killed someone in cold blood…for no reason…sure…I’ll buy that. Just like every police shooting that results in death is “justified”…mmm hmm…

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