In the winter of 2024, the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina, was shaken by a violent act that claimed the life of 27-year-old Celcei Neil Johnson. A female employee at Budiman's Smokeshop & Art Gallery on Cherry Road, Johnson was at her place of work on the evening of December 4th when a man entered and opened fire. The tragic event also resulted in the death of a customer, 49-year-old Emad Thabet Saadalla, and left a third person wounded.
The hours leading up to the shooting revealed a
disturbing prelude. The alleged shooter, 28-year-old Zachary East Elias of Columbia, had reportedly purchased a 'psychedelic substance' from the smoke shop earlier that day. He later returned to the store, shirtless and yelling, and began shooting at the four people inside with an assault rifle. The entire incident was captured on the store's surveillance cameras. Following the shooting, Elias fled the scene in a silver Dodge truck, leading to a police pursuit.
The chase ended when Elias crashed his truck near the Highway 21 bridge over the Catawba River. As officers confronted him, an officer discharged their weapon but did not strike Elias. Elias then charged at the officers, who used a stun gun to subdue him after a physical struggle. He was taken into custody and has been held at the Rock Hill jail.
Zachary East Elias faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a crime of violence. In a court appearance in September 2025, his lawyers admitted that he was responsible for the killings but argued that he was in a state of psychosis after consuming an illegal drug in a chocolate bar he had purchased at the smoke shop. They claimed the product was deceptively marketed and that Elias was unaware of its contents. Despite this argument, a judge denied his request for bail, deeming him a threat to public safety. The case continues to move through the legal system as the community remembers Celcei Johnson, a beloved daughter, sister, and friend known for her caring nature and love for art and baking.
