Sasha Singletary: Teen Charged in Olanta, SC Shooting Death

Sasha Singletary, a 40-year-old woman from Lake City, South Carolina, was shot and killed while riding as a passenger in a car in the Olanta area of Florence County in the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. Six days later, on Friday, Oct. 16, the Florence County Sheriff's Office arrested a 17-year-old from Olanta and charged him with murder in her death.

The man who was driving the car was also hurt in the shooting. Investigators have not released his name or said how badly he was injured. The sheriff's office has said more charges could follow as the investigation continues.

Who Was Sasha Singletary?

Sasha J. Singletary was 40 years old and lived in Lake City, in Florence County, South Carolina. Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken identified her after the shooting. The official reports released so far share few details about her life or her work.

What the official accounts make clear is that she was a passenger, travelling on a rural road outside Olanta, when someone outside the car opened fire.

What Happened in Olanta?

According to the Florence County Sheriff's Office, the shooting happened late on Friday night, Oct. 9, or in the first minutes of Saturday, Oct. 10. The Post and Courier reported that Singletary was shot at around midnight. The location was given as Woods Bay State Park Road near Jones Road in the Olanta area, according to a news release from the coroner cited by the Post and Courier. Some reports describe the road simply as Woods Bay Road.

Florence County Sheriff TJ Joye said Singletary was in the passenger seat when a person outside the vehicle shot her. Emergency medical crews took her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The male driver was also injured.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Medical University of South Carolina, the Post and Courier reported. When WMBF News first identified Singletary on Monday, Oct. 12, the station reported that no arrests had been made.

Has Anyone Been Arrested?

Yes. On Friday, Oct. 16, deputies arrested a 17-year-old from Olanta and charged him with murder. The sheriff's office alleges that he "fired a firearm into a moving car multiple times with the intent to kill the occupants," according to WMBF News.

He is being held at the Florence County Detention Center while he waits for a bond hearing, WPDE reported. No bond had been set at the time of that report. The reports reviewed for this article do not say whether the teen will be prosecuted as an adult or in the juvenile system. Because he is 17 and that question has not been publicly settled, MotiveX is not naming him.

The 17-year-old has only been charged. He is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.

What Police Have Said

The Florence County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Its public statements have been brief. Investigators have not said whether the teen knew Singletary or the driver, and no motive has been made public. Officials have also not said whether a weapon was recovered or how investigators identified the suspect.

WPDE reported that, according to the sheriff's office, "additional charges are possible." HERE Florence reported that the case is expected to go next to the 12th Circuit Solicitor's Office for prosecution.

On the same day Singletary died, police in Lake City were investigating a separate shooting on a city street that left a 2-year-old in critical condition. Sheriff Joye said the two shootings were "not believed to be related," the Post and Courier reported.

What Happens Next

The next step in court is a bond hearing, where a judge will decide whether the 17-year-old can be released before trial and on what conditions. Prosecutors with the solicitor's office will then review the evidence gathered by the sheriff's office and decide how to move the case forward, including which court will hear it.

Investigators have not said whether anyone else was involved. The condition of the injured driver has also not been made public. MotiveX will follow the case as it moves through the courts and will report any new charges, court rulings or statements from Singletary's family.

Timeline of the Sasha Singletary Case

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was killed in the Olanta shooting?

Sasha Singletary, 40, of Lake City, South Carolina. She was a passenger in a car when she was shot near Olanta in Florence County on Oct. 10, 2026.

Who has been charged in Sasha Singletary's death?

A 17-year-old from Olanta was arrested on Oct. 16, 2026, and charged with murder by the Florence County Sheriff's Office. He has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.

Was anyone else hurt?

Yes. The man driving the car was injured. Authorities have not released his name or condition.

Is the Lake City toddler shooting connected?

No connection has been made. Sheriff TJ Joye said the two shootings were not believed to be related.

MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.

Sources

• WMBF News: Teen arrested after woman dies in Florence County shooting
• WMBF News: Woman identified in Florence County shooting
• WPDE: Teen charged with murder in Olanta shooting
• Post and Courier: Florence County woman killed in shooting, sheriff's office investigating
• HERE Florence: Teen charged with murder in Florence County shooting