On a Friday afternoon in North Charleston, South Carolina, the life of 41-year-old Michael Bryan Cooke was tragically cut short. It was February 23, 2018, and Cooke was working alongside his father, Charles Michael Cooke, refurbishing a home on Matipan Drive, when they were ambushed in an attempted robbery. The assailants shot both men, and Michael Bryan Cooke was pronounced dead at the scene.
His father, though seriously wounded, survived the attack.
The two men had been engaged in plumbing work at the residence, a project intended to provide housing for a family in need, when the violent encounter occurred. The sudden and brutal nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the community. Cooke was remembered as a loving husband and father, as well as a bi-vocational worship leader at Life Community Church, known for his infectious smile and warm embrace. He was also the owner of Cooke Landscaping and had previously endeared himself to many during his time working at a local Starbucks.
In the wake of the shooting, investigators from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office began a search for those responsible. Their investigation led them to a nearby high school, where they inquired about any students who may have been absent or late that day. This line of inquiry proved fruitful, leading to the apprehension of two 18-year-old suspects, Aaron Jordan White and Daquintez Jermont Gadsden. Both were arrested and subsequently faced a barrage of charges, including murder, attempted murder, and burglary.
According to an affidavit, White and Gadsden entered the home with the intention of robbing the Cookes. An altercation ensued, during which both father and son were shot. Despite being grievously injured, the elder Cooke was able to provide a description of the shooter to law enforcement. The suspects were later located at Greg Mathis Charter High School, where they matched the descriptions provided by witnesses. Reports indicated that one of the suspects confessed to the shootings. The community rallied around the Cooke family in their time of immense grief, raising significant funds to support them.
