Authorities in Lancaster County, South Carolina, have arrested six individuals—each confirmed to be in the United States illegally—in connection with the murder of 40-year-old Larisha Thompson.

The incident occurred on a rural roadway and was tied to a broader investigation into an earlier burglary.

According to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a vehicle stopped in the middle of a road.

Upon arrival, they found Thompson deceased from a gunshot wound. Investigators later linked the firearm used in the homicide to a prior burglary case involving the same group of suspects.

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The lead suspect, 21-year-old Asael Torres-Chirinos, was taken into custody after a SWAT team executed a search warrant.

He was reportedly present at both crime scenes and was found in possession of the firearm believed to have been used in both the burglary and the fatal shooting.

He is charged with Murder, Attempted Armed Robbery, Burglary Second Degree, two counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Alien.

The other five suspects were identified as Jarby Ardon Ramos-Odari, 18; Jeyson Sobied Pineda-Salgado, 17; and three additional male suspects aged 13, 14, and 15.

All six suspects are currently being held and face the same core charges.

Prosecutors are seeking to try the three juveniles as adults.

Federal immigration authorities have confirmed that all six suspects are in the United States illegally.

Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office deputy Justin Weiland testified during a May court hearing that the suspects exchanged messages via text shortly after the shooting, including statements such as “mission fail” and “this is just the beginning.”

According to Weiland, the group had set out to rob a vehicle along a rural road and targeted Thompson when she happened to drive by.

After surrounding her car, one of the suspects allegedly fired the fatal shot.

Doug Barfield, a spokesman for the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, said in a statement to The National Desk that Torres-Chirinos is believed to be the individual who fired the weapon during both the burglary and the shooting.

“Each is charged in arrest warrants with Murder, Attempted Armed Robbery, and Burglary Second Degree,” Barfield said.

“Torres-Chirinos is also charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Violent Crime and one count of Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Alien.”

Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile strongly condemned the attack, calling the crime an affront to basic decency.

“Ms. Thompson was going about her business on a Friday night, not bothering anyone,” Faile said.

“All of a sudden these six men and boys, out to get something for nothing from someone they did not know and had no business bothering, pulled alongside her car, and Torres-Chirinos opened fire, killing Ms. Thompson. There’s no place in our society for acts like this or the people who commit them, and my hope is these six are never again among us.”

All six suspects remain in custody as the investigation and legal proceedings continue. Authorities have not yet announced trial dates.