Police: Victim tried to intervene in fight, killed outside convenience store

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) — A man was shot and killed while trying to break up an argument at a convenience store in South Carolina, officials said.

Spartanburg police said the shooting happened shortly after 1 a.m. New Year’s Day at the Spinx convenience store in the 1500 block of W.O. Ezell Boulevard.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office said 37-year-old Gregario Julian Lizama Tenorio was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said he had been living out of his vehicle.

Responding officers found Tenorio lying in the parking lot and gave him medical attention. However, the victim died of his injuries at the scene.

Witnesses told investigators that two people in a nearby car, a driver and a back seat passenger, were involved in a fight. Tenorio reportedly tried to intervene and was shot when he approached the car.

The car drove away from the scene.

Police said they have identified the people in the vehicle. Charges will not be filed, though police have not said why.

“This appears to have been a rapidly evolving situation that escalated into deadly violence in a matter of moments,” said Major Art Littlejohn of the Spartanburg Police Department.

Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to call the police department at 864-569-2065 or submit a tip through Crime Stoppers of Spartanburg at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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