SC Mom's Murder by 6 Illegal Migrants Ignites Border Crisis Fury

Paul Riverbank, 6/30/2025South Carolina mother's murder by illegal immigrants sparks national debate on border security.

What unfolded next has left a South Carolina community reeling and thrust Lancaster into the national spotlight. Six individuals, all reportedly in the country illegally, now face charges in what authorities describe as a senseless act of violence that claimed Thompson's life.

I've covered countless stories of crime and immigration over my career, but certain cases cut deeper into our national consciousness. This is one of them.

"Ms. Thompson was just going about her business," Lancaster Sheriff Barry Faile told reporters, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. "These men and boys – out to get something for nothing – pulled up beside her car, and Torres-Chirinos opened fire."

The suspects range from hardened adults to children barely in their teens. Asael Torres-Chirinos, 21, allegedly pulled the trigger. Alongside him, 18-year-old Jarby Ramos-Odari and 17-year-old Jeyson Pineda-Salgado face murder charges. Perhaps most disturbing: three other suspects are just 13, 14, and 15 years old.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) didn't mince words when we spoke about the incident. "Two children will never see their mother again," he said, highlighting the human cost behind the statistics and policy debates.

Yet the story extends beyond this single tragedy. Having reported on immigration for over two decades, I've seen how these incidents become lightning rods for broader policy debates. The American Immigration Council points to significant economic contributions from immigrant communities – in Utah alone, immigrants generated $9.1 billion in spending and $3.1 billion in tax revenue. Studies consistently show lower crime rates among immigrant populations compared to native-born citizens.

But such statistics offer little comfort to Thompson's family. As Sheriff Faile noted, they're "trying to get their heads around how something like this could happen." The Department of Homeland Security has placed detainers on all six suspects, while local law enforcement believes the community is "safer today because these individuals are off the streets."

A Utah resident's recent forum post captured the complexity of the debate: "No one advocates for 'open' borders or opposes deporting violent criminals. We need rational, humane reforms that don't destroy our economy or tear apart law-abiding families."

As Thompson's family grieves and Lancaster grapples with this tragedy, one thing becomes clear: we need solutions that balance security with humanity. Simple answers won't suffice for complex problems. But surely we can do better than a system that failed both Larisha Thompson and the young lives now forever altered by one terrible night in South Carolina.

Paul Riverbank reports from Washington, D.C.

The Friday evening of May 2nd started like any other for Larisha Thompson. The Lancaster mother of two was heading to Rock Hill to meet friends – a simple drive that would tragically become her last.What unfolded next has left a South Carolina community reeling and thrust Lancaster into the national spotlight. Six individuals, all reportedly in the country illegally, now face charges in what authorities describe as a senseless act of violence that claimed Thompson's life.I've covered countless stories of crime and immigration over my career, but certain cases cut deeper into our national consciousness. This is one of them."Ms. Thompson was just going about her business," Lancaster Sheriff Barry Faile told reporters, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. "These men and boys – out to get something for nothing – pulled up beside her car, and Torres-Chirinos opened fire."The suspects range from hardened adults to children barely in their teens. Asael Torres-Chirinos, 21, allegedly pulled the trigger. Alongside him, 18-year-old Jarby Ramos-Odari and 17-year-old Jeyson Pineda-Salgado face murder charges. Perhaps most disturbing: three other suspects are just 13, 14, and 15 years old.Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) didn't mince words when we spoke about the incident. "Two children will never see their mother again," he said, highlighting the human cost behind the statistics and policy debates.Yet the story extends beyond this single tragedy. Having reported on immigration for over two decades, I've seen how these incidents become lightning rods for broader policy debates. The American Immigration Council points to significant economic contributions from immigrant communities – in Utah alone, immigrants generated $9.1 billion in spending and $3.1 billion in tax revenue. Studies consistently show lower crime rates among immigrant populations compared to native-born citizens.But such statistics offer little comfort to Thompson's family. As Sheriff Faile noted, they're "trying to get their heads around how something like this could happen." The Department of Homeland Security has placed detainers on all six suspects, while local law enforcement believes the community is "safer today because these individuals are off the streets."A Utah resident's recent forum post captured the complexity of the debate: "No one advocates for 'open' borders or opposes deporting violent criminals. We need rational, humane reforms that don't destroy our economy or tear apart law-abiding families."As Thompson's family grieves and Lancaster grapples with this tragedy, one thing becomes clear: we need solutions that balance security with humanity. Simple answers won't suffice for complex problems. But surely we can do better than a system that failed both Larisha Thompson and the young lives now forever altered by one terrible night in South Carolina.Paul Riverbank reports from Washington, D.C.