In the late afternoon of a Monday in Newberry, South Carolina, the life of 25-year-old Breanna Bates was tragically cut short. On May 19, 2025, at approximately 3:15 p.m., police responded to a call of shots fired in the 1800 block of Charles Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered Bates with an apparent gunshot wound. An autopsy would later confirm that she died as a result of her injuries.
Breanna, a resident of Newberry and a mother to a young daughter named Aislyn Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the identification and arrest of three local young men. Keonte Montrez Caughman, 20, IJavion Cheek, 17, and IMaurion Lil'Travis Cheek, 19, were taken into custody. All three individuals face serious charges, including murder, three counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. While authorities have not released a motive for the shooting, the police chief indicated that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be forthcoming. It has been stated that Breanna Bates did not appear to be the intended target of the gunfire.
Breanna’s family, including her mother, Rebecca Gary, and her brother, Hakeem Cunningham, remember her as a loving and devoted mother. Her brother recounted how she had cared for him after he was injured in a separate shooting incident. The family has expressed their profound grief and called for an end to gun violence. Funeral services for Breanna were held the following Saturday at the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Clinton, S.C., with burial in Laurens.
