In the fall of 2014, the life of a vibrant and dedicated 32-year-old Black/African American woman, Astrid Haynes, was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence in Columbia, South Carolina. A devoted mother to a two-year-old son, Haynes was known for her entrepreneurial spirit, having started her own business, Bright Light Care Services, to assist the elderly and disabled.
She was also furthering her education, taking classes at Midlands Technical College and the University of South Carolina. Her father remembered her as a hardworking person who always had a smile on her face.
On the night of October 8, 2014, Haynes was at a gathering outside a home on Bratton Street when a drive-by shooting occurred. Multiple shots were fired from a passing vehicle into the group of people. Haynes was struck by a bullet in the lower body and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Investigators soon determined that the shooting was gang-related and that Haynes was an innocent bystander, not the intended target. The intended victim was reportedly a known gang member who was present at the scene.
The initial investigation was met with challenges as neighbors were hesitant to come forward with information. However, through the persistent efforts of the Midlands Gang Task Force, two suspects were identified and apprehended in November 2014. Charlie Kennedy III, 21, and Jashawn Livington, 20, both alleged gang members, were arrested and charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder. Kennedy faced additional charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Following the arrests, the community rallied around Haynes' grieving family, offering support and comfort. While the arrests brought a measure of relief to her loved ones, the subsequent legal proceedings against Kennedy and Livington are not detailed in the available online sources. Information regarding a trial, potential convictions, or sentencing for the murder of Astrid Haynes could not be found in the searched reports.
