In the early hours of March 28, 2022, the life of Kennedy David Drayton, a 31-year-old male, was tragically cut short in his Liberty, South Carolina, home. Authorities arriving at the residence on Moorefield Memorial Highway discovered Drayton with a single, fatal gunshot wound to his abdomen. His death was swiftly ruled a homicide by the Pickens County Coroner's Office.
Present at the scene was Nicole Michelle Heape, then 27, who was found administering aid to Drayton.
She told deputies that she had shot him following an altercation. Heape was initially taken into custody for questioning and then released as authorities looked into her claim of self-defense. However, the investigation continued, and after interviewing associates of both Heape and Drayton and gathering more evidence, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office arrested her the following day. She was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Known to friends and family as 'KD,' Drayton was remembered as a talented and compassionate man with a comedic spirit. Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, he developed a passion for music at a young age, teaching himself to play various instruments and creating music across different genres. He was a father to four children.
The legal proceedings that followed revealed more about the moments leading to the shooting. Heape sought immunity from prosecution under the state's 'stand your ground' law, maintaining that she acted in self-defense. However, in August 2024, a judge denied her request, ruling that she could not use a self-defense claim. The judge concluded that Heape had effectively set up an ambush by taking Drayton's phone and then waiting with a loaded gun, knowing he would come looking for it. Heape remained in custody at the Pickens County Detention Center following her arrest.
