Community rallies behind family after deadly Rock Hill smoke shop shooting

ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV) - Community members in Rock Hill were coming together to support a family this week after both parents were shot in a smoke shop.

Emad Saadalla , 49, was killed in the shooting on Wednesday, Dec. 4. His wife, Leana Saadalla, was also shot, but she survived and was rushed to a hospital.

Rock Hill police say 28-year-old Zachary Elias went into Budiman’s Smoke Shop & Art Gallery on Cherry Road at around 10 p.m. Wednesday and began shooting. Elias is accused of shooting another person -- 27-year-old employee Celci Johnson -- in addition to the Saadallas.

Johnson was killed in the shooting. A fourth person was in the store at the time of the shooting, but was able to “narrowly” escape through a back door, police said.

Leana Saadalla was recovering at the hospital on Friday, Dec. 6, after undergoing multiple surgeries. Family told WBTV earlier on Friday that she may possibly lose part of her arm due to the shooting.

The Saadallas' six children were grappling with the loss of their father, and the ongoing recovery of their mother.

“I think it’s going to take a while for anyone to realize what’s happened,” Kelsey Clinton, the family’s neighbor, told WBTV while sitting down at a restaurant. “Even me, managing here, you start thinking, is this something we need to prevent happening at a restaurant? Things like this don’t really happen in Rock Hill.”

Clinton is a family friend, and has been at the forefront of efforts to help the grieving family -- which is made up of children aged 15 years old to 2 months old.

Clinton helped organize a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to support the family’s expenses related to their father’s funeral, mother’s medical bills, and other everyday needs. Clinton is also collecting donations at Lee’s Famous Chicken, located just minutes from the smoke shop where the shooting happened.

“It’s a tough time, especially near the holidays,” Clinton said. “Their grandmother is now caring for all of them. Right now, everyone is trying to make sure the kids have Christmas, their bills are paid, and they have what they need. Life doesn’t stop when things like this happen.”

Police records say Emad’s last name is Saadalla, but family and friends have said he went by the last name “Thabet.”

Elias charged with murder

Elias was arrested soon after the shooting happened, following a brief police pursuit and alleged confrontation.

Authorities said Elias was unprovoked in his alleged attack.

Elias had “consumed a psychedelic substance purchased from the shop earlier that day,” police said. Elias also reportedly made “incoherent statements” during the shooting, and “walked into the back of the shop looking for potential victims.”

The man has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a weapon during a crime of violence.

A municipal judge denied him bail at a bond hearing on Thursday. Authorities continued to investigate the case.

---> More: Fundraiser to benefit 6 children after father killed, mother hurt in Rock Hill shooting