In the early evening of Tuesday, January 6, 2026, a dispute inside a Spartanburg, South Carolina vape shop tragically escalated, resulting in the shooting death of 32-year-old Thomas Raheem. The incident occurred at a business on East Main Street, shaking the local community and contributing to a series of violent events that marked the beginning of the new year in the city.
The altercation reportedly began when an 18-year-old, Javvon Leg, and a 16-year-old companion were inside the vape
shop. Raheem, a customer, entered the establishment and was allegedly approached by Leg, who asked Raheem to purchase tobacco products for him. When Raheem declined, a verbal confrontation ensued, which quickly turned into a physical fight. The altercation moved behind the counter, where Leg is accused of shooting Raheem multiple times. The entire event was captured by the store's security cameras.
Police were initially called to the scene around 7:10 p.m. for a report of a fight in progress. By the time officers arrived, the call had been updated to a shooting. Inside, they discovered Raheem on the floor with two gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. As police were arriving, Leg and the 16-year-old were attempting to flee in a vehicle but were apprehended by law enforcement. Investigators do not believe the suspects and the victim knew each other prior to the incident.
Following the investigation, Javvon Leg was arrested and charged with the murder of Thomas Raheem. He appeared in court for a bond hearing where the solicitor described the events captured on video, stating that Leg had told Raheem, "You're about to die in this." Bond was denied for Leg, and he is expected to appear in court again in March. The 16-year-old who was with Leg was also taken into custody. The death of Thomas Raheem was one of three homicides to occur in the first week of 2026 in Spartanburg, raising concerns about gun violence within the community.
