Denmark man killed in Enmarket shooting, investigators seek clues

Investigators are still piecing together what happened after a man was shot and killed at the Enmarket in Denmark, and no suspect, motive or arrest had been released. The Bamberg County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Kenneth Strong, 40, of Denmark, and the Denmark Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the coroner’s office were all investigating.

The shooting happened Tuesday at the convenience store on Carolina Highway, a spot that sits in the everyday path of a small town where a single violent call can ripple far beyond the scene. In a community of 3,117 people spread across 3.9 square miles, a death at a high-traffic store like Enmarket immediately becomes a public safety concern as well as a homicide case.

So far, officials have not said what led to the shooting or whether anyone was detained. That leaves residents in Denmark with the most basic questions still unanswered, including whether the violence was targeted or random and whether there is any continuing threat tied to the case. The investigation’s transfer to SLED signals that detectives are working beyond the local department alone as they sort through witness accounts and any available evidence from the store.

The case also fits a painful pattern for Denmark and nearby Bamberg. In August 2024, SLED was asked by Denmark Police Chief Leroy Grimes to assist in a shooting investigation at Denmark Grocery on 59 Magnolia Ave. after 8 p.m. on Aug. 6. That shooting injured the store owner, who was taken to a hospital and treated. In November 2019, two store employees were killed at Po Boys on Heritage Highway in Bamberg in what was described as an apparent armed robbery, with coroner Billy Duncan saying the employees were shot around 10:40 p.m.

Those earlier shootings matter now because they show why convenience stores draw such close attention from law enforcement and why neighbors notice when a familiar stop turns into a crime scene. Enmarket at 4965 Carolina Hwy, near Way Corner, is part of the daily routine for drivers and local shoppers, and a killing there can shake confidence in a place meant for quick, ordinary errands.

Bamberg County had about 12,800 residents in 2025, making each major violent crime feel immediate in a county where people often know the names and faces tied to a case. For now, the focus remains on the investigation, the unanswered questions around Strong’s death, and whether detectives can quickly identify who fired the shots.