In the early evening of December 18, 2024, a dispute outside the Southgate Mall in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, escalated into a fatal act of violence that claimed the life of Rakeem Iaymir Floyd. The 20-year-old African American male was shot and succumbed to his injuries at the scene, his life cut short in the roadway at 221 Southgate Mall around 6:45 p.m.
Witnesses reported that a fight had occurred just before the gunshots rang out, shattering the evening's calm and leaving a community in mourning.
Rakeem, born on September 8, 2004, was a young man with a creative spirit and entrepreneurial dreams. He had a passion for music, particularly rapping, and aspired to create his own clothing line. He was a father to a young son, Sai'yir DeAndre Floyd, and was loved by his parents and siblings. His untimely death has been described as a targeted act of violence that devastated his family and the wider Chambersburg community.
The Chambersburg Police Department launched an investigation that quickly focused on identifying a suspect. A manhunt began for Joshua Martin Bresnick, a 32-year-old man, who was publicly identified as a person of interest. Police described Bresnick as armed and dangerous and sought the public's help in locating him. The investigation was aided by numerous tips submitted through the Crimewatch program.
On January 3, 2025, the search for Bresnick came to an end. Acting on a warrant, the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team conducted an early morning raid at a residence on Buchanan Trail in McConnellsburg, approximately 30 miles from Chambersburg. Bresnick was taken into custody without incident at the home. He has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with the shooting death of Rakeem Floyd. The motive behind the altercation that led to the fatal shooting remains under investigation as the legal proceedings against Bresnick commence.
