In the quiet community of Bradley, South Carolina, a devastating event unfolded on October 29, 2013, forever altering the lives of a local family. On that day, 9-year-old William Asa Robinson, a White male, was tragically killed in a mass shooting at a home on Callison Highway in Greenwood County. The young boy was one of five victims in a violent attack orchestrated by Bryan Eugene Sweatt.
The horrific incident stemmed from a dispute over the custody of a 7-month-old daughter Sweatt
shared with his girlfriend, Chandra Marie Fields. In an act of unthinkable violence, Sweatt ambushed and murdered Fields, her parents, Richard Allen Fields and Melissa Maroney Fields, and her two nephews, William Asa Robinson and his 11-year-old brother, Tariq Kenyon Robinson.
The victims were discovered in various parts of the residence; the grandparents were found in their bedroom and bathroom area, the two boys were in a bedroom, and Chandra Fields and Sweatt were located in the den. Law enforcement determined that Sweatt used a large-caliber handgun to carry out the murders before turning the weapon on himself and taking his own life.
An investigation into the tragedy revealed that while Sweatt had an extensive criminal record, there were no prior indications that he was capable of such extreme violence. Authorities noted a history of arguments between Sweatt and Chandra Fields, mainly concerning the custody of their child, but there was no documented history of domestic violence. The surviving children, including the infant at the center of the custody dispute, were placed in the care of family members. The community was left to mourn the profound loss of five innocent lives, with a funeral service held to honor their memory.
