On a tragic day in May 2021, 37-year-old Tijuana Demetrius Johnson, a Black female, lost her life in a fatal shooting outside the Galaxy Foods grocery store in Estill, South Carolina. The incident, which occurred on May 29, 2021, was the culmination of a dispute with another woman, Tiffany Rebecca Owens. The entire altercation was captured by the store's surveillance cameras, which would later play a crucial role in the investigation and legal proceedings.
The events of that day began
when Owens arrived at the grocery store and parked her vehicle. After making a purchase, she returned to her car but remained in the parking lot. A short time later, Johnson arrived and an exchange of words occurred between the two women as Johnson walked towards the store entrance. A witness reported hearing Owens tell Johnson, 'That's all right; I'll be here when you get back.' Following this, Owens retrieved a Ruger. 380-caliber handgun from her car.
When Johnson exited the store, accompanied by a grocery bagger, she headed towards her own vehicle. Owens then drove her car toward Johnson, and another verbal confrontation ensued. It was at this point that Owens fired a single shot, striking Johnson in the chest. The bullet pierced her lung, and she was found bleeding in the parking lot near her car. Although emergency services were called and she was transported to a local hospital, Tijuana Johnson died while en route.
Initially, Tiffany Rebecca Owens claimed she acted in self-defense. However, the surveillance footage contradicted her account, showing that she had waited for Johnson and then initiated the final, fatal confrontation. After reviewing the video evidence, investigators arrested Owens. In January 2024, a Hampton County General Sessions jury found Tiffany Rebecca Owens guilty of voluntary manslaughter. She was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing of Tijuana Johnson.
