In the quiet, rural neighborhood of Gaffney, South Carolina, the life of Kesha Luwan Lucille Tate, a 42-year-old Black mother of nine, was tragically cut short on the evening of Saturday, August 27, 2022. What began as an ordinary day ended in a senseless act of violence that left a family and community reeling in a neighborhood of about 40 homes.
That evening, as Tate was inside her home on Songbird Lane cooking dinner for her children, the sound of repeated gunshots pierced the air.
Her neighbor, 30-year-old Nicholas Skylar Lucas, was in his backyard, intoxicated and engaging in target practice with a .45-caliber handgun. Concerned by the gunfire, Tate approached her kitchen window to see what was happening. In that moment, a bullet fired from Lucas's gun came through the window and struck her in the chest. She died at the scene while her children, who were also in the home, called 911.
Nicholas Skylar Lucas was arrested and initially claimed the shooting was a tragic accident, suggesting the bullet had ricocheted off a satellite dish he was using as a target. He was first charged with involuntary manslaughter and shooting under the influence. However, the investigation took a sharp turn as forensic evidence began to tell a different story.
Investigators found the bullet that struck Tate to be in "pristine condition," making a ricochet unlikely. This crucial finding led authorities to believe that Lucas had to have turned and intentionally fired in the direction of Tate's home. Based on this new evidence, the charges against Lucas were upgraded to murder and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. During a bond hearing, Lucas expressed his confusion, stating that the shooting was a "complete accident" and that he couldn't believe anyone would think he would intentionally kill his neighbor.
In September 2025, Nicholas Skylar Lucas went on trial. The prosecution argued that Lucas was firing his gun recklessly, while his defense maintained that the shooting was a tragic accident that occurred during legal target practice. On September 3, 2025, a jury found Lucas guilty of involuntary manslaughter and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison: 10 years for discharging a firearm and five years for involuntary manslaughter. As of September 2025, the case is closed.
