LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A suspect is in custody following a shooting at Lancaster Motor Speedway that left one person dead Saturday night, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.
Just before 11 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting during the last event of the Steven Johnson Memorial Race, just inside the front gate near the ticket office.
Larissa Moore was there with her family and was just leaving the track. On their way out, she witnessed an altercation outside the gate.
"The gentleman who was at the front gate wouldn't let him in," Moore said. "Ultimately, he had a gun and was upset that they weren't letting him back in and it resulted in a man's life. It was just an innocent gentleman who was trying to do his job."
Moore jumped into action while bystanders pulled her away daughter to safety.
"My husband and another sheriff ended up running after the person who was doing the shooting and tried to catch him but was unsuccessful," Moore explained. "Myself and a few of the other employees, first responders that were there at the track went into full CPR compressions. We did everything that we could. It was unfortunate."
The man was later taken to MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center where was pronounced dead, according to deputies. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office later identified the victim as 53-year-old Rodney Cunningham of Heath Springs, South Carolina.
Cunningham’s family described him as a big teddy bear who always had a smile on his face. He leaves behind six children and seven grandchildren.
His son William Cunningham said called the incident a senseless act of violence.
“How can one man take care of so many people and he did it,” William Cunningham said. “It is just hard to understand it. For someone to take a man’s life like that with just no care in the world.”
Kim Cunningham is struggling to come to terms that her husband of 30 years is gone. She said his loss will be felt throughout the community.
“I’m mad and I’m hurt somebody took my kid’s father and that’s all that I can think,” Kim Cunningham said. “I can’t take it day by day. I’m taking it moment by moment.”
Rodney Cunningham spent many weekends with his loved ones at the Lancaster Motor Speedway.
"You want to look for him on a Saturday night and you will find him at the race track with a smile on his face," William Cunningham said. "Not bothering anybody, no harm, nothing."
He said his father was not only a man of integrity but his hero.
“He pretty much raised his boys to be like him… a provider, to be men and to stand on your own two feet,” he said. “He was also that crutch, that shoulder if you ever needed anything.”
The Cunninghams are leaning on faith and hoping justice prevails.
“I have faith in the higher power and I just take it a day at a time and just hope he gets what he deserves,” William Cunningham said.
Lancaster County deputies named 37-year-old Bryan Terrell Mitchell as a suspect shortly after arriving at the speedway.
“If he has any kind of soul, plead guilty. Be accountable for what you did,” Kim Cunningham said. “Make it easy on the family and the system.”
Mitchell was spotted entering the Scotchman Store at Charlotte Highway and Shiloh Unity Road around 3 a. m., officials said. Deputies responded to the store, but Mitchell had left when they arrived.
Around 5 a.m. Mitchell was spotted along Charlotte Highway just north of the new bridge construction and fled into the woods. Officers set up a perimeter and requested assistance from other agencies
On Sunday around 9:50 a.m., Mitchell was taken into custody without incident by Lancaster deputies after an hours-long search. He is charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, according to deputies.
Officers from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the Lancaster Police Department, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the York County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol assisted in locating Mitchell, deputies said.
“One of our officers with a drone spotted the person once he potted the person the dog team ran in there and stay on him pretty hot and heavy until he actually came out,” Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile, who went to High school with Rodney Cunningham, said.
"He was loved by the community and will be missed by the community," Faile said.
After all of the chaos, Moore said being reunited with her entire family and her daughter were the only things that gave her relief.
"I grabbed my child and held her tight, and all I could hear her saying was, 'Mommy, you're squeezing me too tight,'" Moore said. "And I said I'm sorry but I just couldn't let go. I hope the family forgives him at the same time, you know, he needs to pay for what he has done."
A large crowd was on hand for the night’s races, according to deputies. Patrol deputies arrived quickly, secured the scene and began interviewing witnesses about the incident.
“Lots of folks were at the track last night, and a good number of people likely saw some or all of the events leading up to and including the shooting," Faile said in a statement. “We have identified some of them but encourage others who we have not talked with to call the sheriff’s office and tell us what you know. We hope to positively identify the shooter and take him into custody soon.”
The Lancaster Motor Speedway also posted about the incident on Facebook: "I know everyone knows what happened at the race tonight, all I ask is that everyone keep that person family in your thoughts and prayers."
No other injuries were reported during the incident.
Mitchell had a bond hearing Sunday. His bond was denied. He is expected in court on Oct. 28
Anyone with information about this or any other case should call the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.