Shooting at South Carolina tattoo business leaves man dead, deputies say
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. —
A man died after a shooting at a tattoo business in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, according to the sheriff’s office.
The shooting
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called just before 11 p.m. to 1211 Boiling Springs Rd., Ill Ink Tattoos, for a shooting.
Deputies said they found Troy Conner, 44, with a gunshot wound.
Conner died about 11:15 p.m. at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, authorities said.
Suspect arrest
Deputies said they spoke to witnesses and identified the possible shooter as Wade Christopher Kastner Jr.
Deputies said they also learned that Kastner had committed domestic violence against his wife, who was at the business prior to his arrival.
Kastner was arrested and charged with:
- Murder
- Domestic Violence, High and Aggravated
- Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime (2 Counts)
Kastner was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Facility.
Response from tattoo business:
Ill Ink posted the following message on Facebook about the shooting:
“We really don’t know how to write this post.
“Last night we lost our friend, business partner, and one of the people who made Ill Ink what it is, Troy Conner.
“Troy was a great guy. He loved his children, his family and his friends. He helped everyone he could, usually without expecting anything in return, and he was an awesome artist who genuinely cared about what he did.
“Losing him this way is something none of us know how to make sense of. There isn’t an explanation that is going to make it feel any less senseless, and right now we’re all just trying to process that Troy is gone.
“We want everyone to know that Ill Ink will stay open. This was Troy’s shop and something he put a lot of himself into, and we intend to keep it going the way he would have wanted us to.We’ll update everyone about memorial services and arrangements as soon as we know more.
“And thank you to everybody who has called, messaged, checked on us, shared memories of Troy or just reached out to show some love. There have been so many people showing they care, and it really does mean a lot to us and to everyone who loved him.
Please keep his children and family in your thoughts right now.We love you Troy. We’re going to miss you man.”