Police identify suspect after Troy Allen Conner dies following reported shooting in Spartanburg

 A Thursday night in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, ended with devastating news for the loved ones of Troy Allen Conner, 44. A reported shooting at Ill Ink Tattoos on Boiling Springs Road led to an emergency response, followed by a hospital transfer that could not save his life. For family and close friends, the events of September 10 have left behind a painful absence and many difficult emotions. The loss came suddenly and painfully for those who knew him.

According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to Ill Ink Tattoos after receiving a report of a shooting. Troy was found suffering from a gunshot wound and transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where he later died. The response and medical treatment established the tragic outcome, while authorities continued addressing the circumstances surrounding the incident. For those closest to Troy, learning that he had died brought an unimaginable shock.

Authorities have identified Wade Christopher Kastner Jr. as a suspect in connection with the shooting. Kastner has been charged with murder, domestic violence, and weapons-related offenses, according to authorities. Those charges are allegations rather than findings of guilt, and Kastner is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The information does not explain the relationship between Troy and Kastner or fully describe what happened before officers arrived at the tattoo business.

Questions about the shooting remain unanswered. There are no additional details describing what led to the reported shooting, the events immediately preceding it, or the evidence authorities may have gathered at the scene. As the investigation and legal process continue, separating confirmed information from speculation is especially important. For now, the known facts establish where the emergency response occurred, the nature of Troy’s injuries, his hospital treatment, and his unexpected death.

For Troy’s family and friends, however, the official details represent only one part of a much larger loss. The account alone does not provide information about his occupation, interests, family circumstances, or other personal aspects of his life. Those personal details alone should not be invented, yet the grief described around his death makes clear that he was someone whose absence is deeply felt. People who knew him are now being left with memories and relationships that cannot be replaced.

A sudden death can change lives in an instant, leaving loved ones to move between disbelief, grief, and remembrance. Troy’s death followed a reported shooting on a Thursday night, but his story cannot be reduced to the circumstances of that evening. For the people who cared about him, his life existed through shared experiences over time and personal connections that extended far beyond the location where the fatal incident occurred. Those memories now carry added significance during this difficult period.

The criminal case surrounding Troy’s death will proceed separately from the mourning experienced by his family and friends. While Wade Christopher Kastner Jr. faces charges in the shooting, the allegations have not been proven in court, and any determination of guilt belongs to the legal system. Authorities remain responsible for the case, while those grieving Troy must cope with the personal consequences of losing him. Both realities can exist as the case moves forward.

Troy Allen Conner, 44, is now remembered by family, friends, and others affected by his death following the reported shooting at Ill Ink Tattoos on Boiling Springs Road. The available facts establish a tragic sequence: an emergency response, a gunshot wound, transportation to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, and Troy’s death. As the investigation continues, those who loved him can hold onto the memories and relationships that made his presence deeply meaningful throughout their lives.