In what began as a seemingly routine online sale, a young woman's life was tragically cut short in Columbia, South Carolina. Anaya Q. Herndon, a 22-year-old female, had arranged to meet a buyer for some items she was selling online on March 19, 2025. The meeting was set to take place at the Greenbrier Apartments on Willow Oak Drive. However, the transaction turned into a violent robbery that ended her life.
Around 2 p.m.
that Wednesday afternoon, deputies from the Richland County Sheriff's Department responded to a call about a shooting at the apartment complex. Upon arrival, they discovered Herndon in the driver's seat of a car, unconscious with a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the victim of a robbery that escalated to murder. Her family remembered her as a positive and ambitious person who had just graduated with her barber's license and was planning to open her own barbershop. She was also developing her own clothing and hair-cutting brand and was remembered by her cousins as someone who wanted to set a better example for the younger generation.
The investigation led to the swift apprehension of two suspects at the scene. Quavon Eichelberger, 20, was identified as the individual who had arranged to meet Herndon for the sale. Authorities allege that during the meeting, Eichelberger robbed and shot her. He was arrested and subsequently charged with murder, armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and was denied bond.
A second man, 20-year-old Zaire Warner, who had accompanied Herndon to the sale, was also taken into custody. While the investigation cleared him of involvement in the deadly shooting, deputies discovered he was in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a gun and was charged accordingly. Warner's bond was set at $2,500, and he was later released from jail. Authorities stated they believe there are no additional suspects in the case.
