Monday morning, August 18, 2025, the serene stretch of Interstate 26 in Newberry County, South Carolina, was shattered by a violent act that claimed the life of 52-year-old Rose Helen Kewlani of West Columbia. The bustling highway, a lifeline through the Midlands, became the scene of a chilling homicide that unfolded near Exit 82, the Prosperity exit, leaving a community in shock and authorities scrambling to piece together the events.

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the tragedy began when 45-year-old Wilfrido George Luna, also from West Columbia, allegedly shot Kewlani inside a vehicle on the westbound side of I-26. The motive remains shrouded in mystery, with investigators still working to uncover the connection between Luna and Kewlani and what sparked the deadly encounter. What is clear, however, is the chaos that followed. After firing the fatal shots, Luna fled the scene, racing across both lanes of the interstate in a desperate bid to escape.

In his flight, Luna reportedly attempted to carjack a nearby tractor-trailer, flagging down the unsuspecting driver who had no involvement in the crime. “We’re trying to decipher how the tractor-trailer truck was involved in it; he had nothing to do with it. The suspect flagged him down,” Sheriff Lee Foster clarified, emphasizing the driver’s innocence in the ordeal. Luna’s path led him through a patch of trees and onto the grounds of the Mid-Carolina Country Club, where his run would come to an end.

As Luna reached the country club’s parking lot, a tense standoff ensued. Law enforcement, including deputies from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), converged on the scene. After a brief but intense confrontation, Luna was apprehended and charged with murder. He now awaits justice at the Newberry County Detention Center, while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting, which they believe was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public.

The ripple effects of the shooting were felt beyond the highway. At the Mid-Carolina Country Club, where a golf tournament was underway, quick-thinking staff sprang into action. General Manager Scott Crouch described how airhorns blared across the course, signaling golfers to seek safety. “We blew the horns, went around in carts, and got everybody herded up here to the clubhouse as well as my maintenance shop,” Crouch recounted. Patrons were swiftly ushered to secure areas, ensuring their safety as the situation unfolded.

Nearby, the School District of Newberry County took no chances. Out of an abundance of caution, Mid-Carolina High School and Mid-Carolina Middle School were placed on lockdown, while Little Mountain, Pomaria-Garmany, and Prosperity-Rikard elementary schools entered “Secure Mode.” The lockdowns, though brief, lasting less than 30 minutes, underscored the gravity of the situation. District officials later confirmed that all students and staff were safe, and schools resumed normal operations, but the incident left an indelible mark on the community.

Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece identified the victim as Rose Helen Kewlani, a woman whose life was tragically cut short. An autopsy was scheduled to provide further insight into her death, as investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, SLED, and other agencies meticulously combed through evidence to understand the events leading up to the shooting. Sheriff Foster praised the civilians who witnessed the incident and assisted law enforcement, noting their courage in a moment of crisis.

As the investigation continues, questions linger about what drove Luna to commit such a heinous act. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, alongside SLED, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, and Transport Police, remains dedicated to uncovering the truth. For now, the community mourns the loss of Rose Kewlani, a life extinguished on a highway that will never feel quite the same.