In the quiet city of Anderson, South Carolina, the life of 11-year-old Ja'Naiya Jarvasia Scott was tragically cut short on the night of Sunday, June 23, 2019. A hail of at least 35 bullets was fired into her family's home on West End Avenue, striking the young girl. At the time of the shooting, Ja'Naiya was on the phone with her best friend. Her mother, awakened by the gunfire, rushed to the living room to find her daughter wounded and attempted to administer CPR.
Tragically, Ja'Naiya succumbed to her injuries before emergency services could transport her to a hospital. Two other family members, an 18-year-old and an 11-year-old, were also injured in the attack but survived.
The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the Anderson community, prompting a swift and intensive investigation by local law enforcement. Their efforts led them to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where they located and arrested 17-year-old Stephen Braden Powell. Powell was subsequently charged with one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting. During his bond hearing, at which he appeared wearing a bulletproof vest, the judge denied bond, ensuring he would remain in custody.
Investigators believe that Powell did not act alone, as evidence indicated the use of two different firearms—a pistol and an SKS rifle—in the commission of the crime. The search for at least one other suspect remains ongoing. A compelling and controversial element of the case emerged in the form of a social media post. A confession to the murder appeared on a Facebook page under Powell's name, stating, 'Late Saturday night, on June 23, 2019. I killed a little girl because thought it was okay to rob me for what I had and I wanted to take what had.' However, the post was quickly deleted and followed by another claiming the account had been hacked. Authorities have not officially commented on a direct link between the social media posts and Powell's arrest, stating that they already had investigative leads. It was also revealed that Powell had been a person of interest in a prior shooting investigation in Wellford.
