Blood Drive to be Held for Teen Shot at Walmart in Aiken
The 13-year-old victim of a random shooting at Walmart in Aiken last week needs blood.
Shepeard Community Blood Center is hosting a blood drive this weekend in Aiken in support of Ashton Rickard. Ashton was shopping with her mother when she was allegedly shot by 32-year-old Stephen Foreman of Aiken. Investigators confirmed it was a random shooting. Foreman called authorities a short time later, told them where he was and he was taken into custody and charged with Attempted Murder.
Ashton was shot in the arm and abdomen and has already undergone multiple surgeries. Shepeard Community Center has already provided more than 20 blood products supplied by local donors, and officials say more may be needed in the future.
A blood drive in support of Ashton will be held this Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. in the family life center at Mercy Church, 2700 Whiskey Road in Aiken.
Donors are asked to make an appointment by going to Shepeard’s website or using the link: https://donor.shepeardblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/29891.
“You never know when someone in your family will need blood, ” said Benjamin Prijatel, CEO of Shepeard Community Blood Center. He added, “I’m very grateful to the many donors who unknowingly donated blood for Ashton in the days before this tragedy. As the only local blood center, Shepeard could not provide peace and healing to families without the selfless generosity of our blood donors.”