In Anderson, South Carolina, on the afternoon of April 28, 2026, the life of 21-year-old Jamyuz Kanyi Bennett was tragically cut short. Bennett was a passenger in a vehicle near the intersection of Nelson Drive and East River Street when a violent exchange of gunfire erupted with another car. Struck by a bullet, he succumbed to his injuries in what the Anderson County Coroner’s Office would later rule a homicide.
The vehicle he was in ultimately crashed following the shooting, which occurred around 1:30 p.m.
The investigation into Bennett's death quickly led authorities to a suspect. E'Nicholas Leake, 27, was identified and a warrant was issued for his arrest on a murder charge. The following day, in a dramatic series of events, Leake was located on the campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia. A pursuit ensued, culminating in his capture inside the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center. No injuries were reported during the chase and subsequent arrest.
Following his apprehension, Leake was transported back to Anderson County to face legal proceedings. During his bond hearing, the courtroom was filled with Jamyuz Bennett's grieving family. His mother, Felicia Cowan, emotionally expressed her profound loss, lamenting that her son would never have the chance to see his one-year-old child grow up or meet his unborn baby. The judge denied bond for Leake, and he is scheduled for another court appearance in June. The community and Bennett's family now await the progression of the legal case, seeking justice for a life taken too soon.
