Police: Gunman wishes woman ‘a blessed day’ after Upstate church parking lot robbery
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - A woman told police that a man wished her a “blessed day” after robbing her at gunpoint outside a Spartanburg church Thursday, according to the Spartanburg Police Department.
According to an incident report, the woman was attending a dance recital at a church on North Landford Road when she walked to her car in the parking lot. She said she noticed a silver Chevy Malibu with dark-tinted windows backed into a space two spots away from her car. Its lights were on.
The woman told police she approached the Malibu to see who was inside but changed her mind and turned around to walk back into the church.
As she walked, the woman heard a door open and turned around to see a suspect wearing a gray hoodie running toward her, according to the report.
The suspect had a gun and said, “Give me your money or I will kill you,” and, “I already killed two people; there are no cameras here,” the report said.
The woman told the suspect her purse was inside and offered to leave her car keys while she retrieved it, according to the report. She then returned and handed the suspect money.
The suspect returned her keys and told her, “Have a blessed day,” before getting back into his car and driving away, the report said.
Police said the woman memorized the vehicle’s license plate, which helped officers identify the suspect as 26-year-old Demarieia Quartez Collins.
Collins was taken to the Spartanburg County jail and charged with armed robbery, officials said.
The church made the following statement after the incident:
MORE NEWS:
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with FOX Carolina. For more free content like this, download our apps.
Copyright 2026 WHNS. All rights reserved.