business
‘Felt like a demon walked up on me’: Woman says stranger sexually assaulted her while shopping
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Lenah Allen, Jordan Gartner , WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 23, 2026
· 2 min read
COLUMBIA, S.C. ( WIS /Gray News) - A South Carolina woman says she was sexually assaulted inside a beauty supply store over the weekend. Destiny Ray said she was shopping at Hair Depot on Decker Boulevard when a man approached her inside the store, asked her to help him pick out a dress for his d...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Lenah Allen, Jordan Gartner, WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway ( WIS /Gray News) - A South Carolina woman says she was sexually assaulted inside a beauty supply store over the weekend.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The incident in South Carolina raises questions about safety in Nashville's own retail spaces, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. While this specific case occurred outside of Davidson County, it serves as a stark reminder that similar incidents can happen anywhere. Nashville business owners and managers should take note of the importance of maintaining a secure environment for customers, including providing adequate staffing and surveillance. The fact that the victim in this case was able to record video and the store shared surveillance footage highlights the role that technology can play in holding perpetrators accountable. As Nashville continues to grow and develop, it's crucial that local leaders prioritize initiatives that support victims of sexual assault and ensure that businesses are taking proactive steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place. By doing so, Nashville can work towards creating a safer and more supportive community for all residents.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? COLUMBIA, S.C. ( WIS /Gray News) - A South Carolina woman says she was sexually assaulted inside a beauty supply store over the weekend. Destiny Ray said she was shopping at Hair Depot on Decker Boulevard when a man approached her inside the store, asked her to help him pick out a dress for his d...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Lenah Allen, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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