In the early hours of January 10, 2026, the life of 28-year-old Ashlyn Brianna Burkett was tragically cut short in Charleston, South Carolina. Police responded to a report of a shooting on Tripe Street in the West Ashley area at approximately 12:30 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Ms. Burkett deceased inside a vehicle, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds.
The Charleston Police Department quickly launched a homicide investigation into the shooting, which they described as a targeted
incident. Their investigation led them to identify 33-year-old Antonio Jamal Kelly of Charleston as a suspect. Detectives determined that Kelly had been in a former romantic relationship with Burkett.
As part of their investigation, the Charleston Police Department's Special Operations Division executed a search warrant at a residence on Tripe Street where Kelly was located. He was initially taken into custody on an unrelated domestic violence warrant. A significant breakthrough in the case came from the Charleston Police Department's DNA Laboratory, which processed key evidence within days, providing crucial investigative leads.
On January 15, 2026, Antonio Jamal Kelly was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida. His arrest was a coordinated effort between the Charleston Police Department's Warrants Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service. Kelly now faces charges of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held in Florida, awaiting extradition back to South Carolina to face legal proceedings. The investigation into the death of Ashlyn Burkett remains active.
