Two Arrested After Teen Shot in Face in SC Road Rage

FOUNTAIN INN, S.C.   A routine Monday night drive turned tragic for an 18-year-old woman who was shot in the face during a suspected road rage confrontation. Two men have now been arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place near North Main Street and Village Vista Drive around 9:45 p.m.

According to the Fountain Inn Police Department, officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they found the young woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. She was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency care. As of the latest update, her current condition has not been disclosed.

Investigators believe the incident was the result of an altercation between two vehicles. While details are still emerging, authorities suspect that some form of road rage led to the violent encounter. Officers later located a vehicle believed to be connected to the shooting and took two individuals into custody.

. Authorities say Herman Clayton Burdette Jr. fired several rounds into a moving vehicle where the teen victim was seated as a passenger. Court records indicate that Burdette used a .45-caliber handgun, and one bullet entered the woman’s right cheek and lodged in her jaw. He is now facing serious charges, including attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Also arrested was Randy Wayne Palazzola, who was reportedly in the vehicle with Burdette at the time of the shooting. Police allege that Palazzola failed to intervene or report the shooting and later admitted to concealing the firearm in Burdette’s boat. As a result, Palazzola is being charged as an accessory after the fact.

Both men were booked into the Greenville County Detention Center, where they remain in custody.

The incident has deeply unsettled the quiet town of Fountain Inn and raised awareness about how quickly road rage can turn violent. For now, many are left hoping for the young woman’s recovery while trusting that justice will follow its course.

The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released any further details. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact local authorities.

As this story unfolds, it serves as a sobering reminder of how a single moment on the road can have devastating consequences and how important it is to stay calm behind the wheel.