A weekend trip to a Sam's Club in Columbia ended in handcuffs for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher after deputies say she punched a woman in the face during a checkout line argument last Saturday. Richland County authorities have identified the suspect as 42-year-old Ashley Murff and charged her with third-degree assault and battery. Murff, a teacher at Winget Park Elementary, has been suspended with pay while the district reviews the incident, according to school officials.
Confrontation at the Register
Deputies say the dispute started in the checkout line when the victim reported that another woman used a racial slur, sparking a heated back-and-forth that escalated into a physical altercation. According to WYFF, the victim told deputies she tried to snap a photo of the woman before she was punched in the face. Investigators reviewed store surveillance footage and identified Murff as the primary aggressor, officials say.
School Ties and District Response
Murff is listed as a teacher at Winget Park Elementary. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told WSOC that she has been suspended with pay while the district investigates the off-campus incident that led to her arrest. Officials stressed that the situation did not arise from school operations but said they plan to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the criminal case moves forward.
Arrest and Booking
Richland County deputies arrested Murff on Wednesday morning and booked her into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on a third-degree assault and battery charge, according to local reports. ABC Columbia reports that investigators obtained a warrant after reviewing the store's surveillance footage and that the reported assault happened during the afternoon rush at the Sam's Club on Fashion Drive. Murff remains in Richland County custody as the case proceeds through the courts.
What the Charge Means
Under South Carolina law, third-degree assault and battery is a misdemeanor that can bring a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail if a defendant is convicted. The statute treats third-degree assault as a lesser-included offense of more serious assault charges and notes that these cases can be tried in magistrate court. See South Carolina Code §16-3-600 for details.
Next Steps
The Richland County Sheriff's Department says the investigation is ongoing, and local reporters note that deputies continue to follow up on leads developed from Sam's Club surveillance footage. The case was first reported by WCNC and has since drawn attention from several outlets across the region.
