Kiran Patel, 49, was killed while managing DD’s Food Mart on South Pinckney Street in Union, South Carolina. On the evening of September 16, 2025, while counting the day’s receipts at the register, she was shot after a man entered the store around 10:30 p.m., climbed onto the counter and opened fire. Patel reportedly threw a plastic bottle at the attacker and tried to run; she was struck about 20 feet from the store entrance and was shot again where she fell. Emergency responders found her with fatal gunshot wounds.

Law enforcement identified 21-year-old Zaedan Mack Hill as the suspect. Investigators linked him to Patel’s killing and to an earlier shooting that same day in which 67-year-old Charles Nathan Crosby was found dead in his yard. Nine-millimeter shell casings recovered at both scenes were part of the forensic connection. Hill was taken into custody on September 19 after an hours-long standoff and has been charged with murder and is being held at the Union County Jail without bond.

The community remembers Patel as a hardworking, kind manager and a familiar presence to regular customers. If anyone witnessed the attack at DD’s Food Mart that night or has information about either shooting, please come forward to local authorities.