On September 26, 1988, a gunman entered Oakland Elementary School in Greenwood, South Carolina, and opened fire in the cafeteria and a third-grade classroom. Eight-year-old third-grader Tequila Thomas was in a reading group with her teacher when the shooter entered her classroom; she was struck in the neck and taken to Self Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Tequila died of her injuries three days later on September 29, 1988.

The shooter, identified as 19-year-old James William Wilson, had no connection to the school. He fired multiple shots, killing another eight-year-old student, Shequila Bradley, and wounding students and teachers. Wilson ran out of ammunition and was held at the scene by the school principal until police arrived; he was charged with murder and assault with intent to kill and was later convicted and sentenced to death.

A memorial garden was established at the school, which was later renamed Eleanor S. Rice Elementary School in honor of the principal who restrained the shooter.