17-Year-Old Future Father Sh0t De-ad While Boarding School Bus – Three Suspects Arrested

GAFFNEY, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Three suspects are in custody following a shooting at a bus stop in South Carolina that left a 17-year-old dead.

Cherokee County Sheriff Mueller said three people were involved in the death of 17-year-old Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr., who was shot in the back of the head while boarding a school bus outside of his apartment complex in Gaffney on Wednesday morning.

Suspect captured following manhunt

Kevon Ken’Dre Covington(Courtesy: Cherokee County Sheriff)

The sheriff said 18-year-old Keveon Ken’Dre Covington has been captured following a manhunt that began around 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Sheriff Mueller said a perimeter was set up along Concord Road, Highway 150, Pleasant School Road, and Wilcox Road. Investigators believed Covington was contained within those four roadways.

The sheriff said a call came in from homeowners just outside of the perimeter on Marlowe Drive who stated Covington asked to use their phone and get some water.

Officials said community members reportedly tried to delay Covington once they recognized him, but he fled into the woods when officers arrived. He was located just before 5 p.m. and arrested without incident.

16-year-old suspect arrested

Officials said a third suspect was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Spartanburg County.

Because the suspect is 16 years old, officials are not releasing his identity. He will be taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center and could potentially be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

17-year-old charged as adult denied bond

Reginald Louis Barnes Jr.(Cherokee County Detention Center)

The Gaffney Police Department said the first suspect, 17-year-old Reginald Louis Barnes Jr., was taken into custody in Spartanburg at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday. He is being charged as an adult for murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Under South Carolina law, 17-year-olds charged with serious felonies, like murder, or crimes that carry a maximum sentence of 15 years or more are automatically tried as adults in General Sessions Court, though the solicitor has the option to move the case back to Family Court.

In bond court on Thursday, Solicitor Barry Barnette said there were at least five gunshots, two shooters, and two guns found. Tests are being run to find out which suspect fired the fatal shot.

Barnes spoke in court and said he was at the scene but did not know Fair was going to die that day. He claimed he was driving and did not shoot Fair.

The judge denied Barnes’ request for bond and ordered him to have no contact with the victim’s family.

Victim’s family speaks in court

Fair Jr.’s family appeared in bond court, describing him as a good child who loved his family and was set to graduate from high school early.

Fair was also preparing to become a father in October. His family said all he talked about was his baby.

17-Year-Old Future Father Sh0t De-ad While Boardin...