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Inset: Ashley Murff (Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center). Background: The Sam’s Club where Murff allegedly used a racial slur and punched another shopper (Google Maps).
A North Carolina teacher has been arrested following an alleged assault at a Sam’s Club in South Carolina on Valentine’s Day. The incident reportedly involved a racial slur and a physical attack in front of multiple witnesses.
Authorities have charged 42-year-old Ashley Murff with third-degree assault and battery, according to court documents. Murff is an educator within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, teaching at Winget Park Elementary School in Charlotte’s southwest region.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a potential assault at approximately 1:15 p.m. on February 14 at the Sam’s Club located on Fashion Drive, as reported by local CBS affiliate WBTV. The altercation involved the use of a racial slur, according to witnesses.
Deputies who arrived at the scene, situated about 90 miles south of Charlotte, interviewed the alleged victim. She recounted that while she was waiting in line for a rotisserie chicken, Murff, who was positioned behind her, allegedly hurled a racial slur. This remark reportedly sparked a verbal confrontation that escalated into a physical altercation.
Upon arriving at the location, which is about 90 miles south of Charlotte, deputies spoke with the victim. The victim claimed she was waiting in line to get a rotisserie chicken when the woman behind her, later identified as Murff, called her a racial slur. Murff’s alleged comment led to a verbal argument between the women.
The victim said that while the women were arguing, she tried to take a picture of Murff. At that point, the teacher allegedly punched her in the face, Greenville NBC affiliate WYFF reported. The two reportedly fought until they were separated by others.
Murff allegedly left the store before authorities arrived, but authorities identified her through surveillance footage and obtained a warrant for her arrest.
T’Nae Parker, a friend of the victim, told Columbia-based Fox affiliate WACH that her friend was in line waiting for a chicken and took an extra one for an older lady who was not able to wait in line.
“There was an elderly lady that didn’t have the ability to stand in line, and my friend offered to just get a chicken for her,” Parker told the station. “People are allowed to do that. You’re allowed to get more than one chicken.”
Murff allegedly got angry and called Parker’s friend “the N-word.”
“That’s when she called her the racial slur,” Parker continued. “She called her the racial slur twice, the N-word, and she said it twice.”
Parker said the incident did not reflect well on Murff’s reputation as a school teacher.
“The situation highlights why it matters what people believe in, the biases that they carry,” she said. “Those beliefs don’t just exist in private. They show up in classrooms.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools reportedly announced that Murff has been suspended from her position with pay pending an investigation.
Murff was booked into Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Wednesday morning. It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to appear in court.