In the small city of Chester, South Carolina, the evening of May 3, 2026, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 16-year-old Avery O’Brien West. Avery, a boy known for being an energetic ray of sunshine who could quickly fill any room with his presence, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on Pinckney Street at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Another teenager, a 17-year-old, was also wounded in the attack, struck by gunfire in the back and subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. A third individual was also targeted in the shooting but was not hit. Avery was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving a void in the lives of his family and friends. An avid baseball player, Avery had attended Hawthorne Christian Academy before moving to Chester High School. He was known for his love of helping his dad with home remodeling, hunting, fishing, and climbing anything he could. His obituary fondly remembers his close bond with his cousin Kaidyn and his enjoyment of his mother's cooking.
The Chester Police Department initially responded to the scene, but given the gravity of the crime, the investigation was quickly handed over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assisted by the Chester County Sheriff's Office, SLED began to piece together the events of that tragic Sunday night. Their investigation soon led them to identify three suspects from Chester County. Within days of the shooting, arrests were made. John David Estes, 21, and Quentin Javor Craig Jr., 24, were both charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. A third individual, 53-year-old Kenyetta Adrryll Sims, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder for her role in assisting one of the suspects after the crime.
According to arrest warrants, both Estes and Craig Jr. fired shots from a 2014 Ford Focus. Surveillance footage and witness statements, including a statement from a co-defendant, implicated both men in the shooting. The warrants further detailed that Kenyetta Adrryll Sims allegedly helped Quentin Javor Craig Jr. by driving him to Pineville, North Carolina, and arranging for him to be concealed at a residence. She is also accused of providing false information to law enforcement during interviews, which obstructed and delayed the investigation. Following their arrests, all three suspects were booked into the Chester County Detention Center, and bond was denied for each of them. The case is set to be prosecuted by the 6th Circuit Solicitor's Office, and the investigation by SLED remains active and ongoing. The motive for the shooting has not been publicly released by officials. The overview of the case is that a 16-year-old was killed in a drive-by shooting, leading to the swift arrest of two men on murder charges and a woman for being an accessory. The legal proceedings are pending as the community awaits justice for the untimely death of Avery O’Brien West.
