In the pre-dawn hours of June 4, 2026, a fatal confrontation shattered the quiet of a residential neighborhood in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Le'Byron Cathcart, a 39-year-old man, was at his home on Amelia Avenue when he noticed someone inside his vehicle. He went outside to confront the individual, who then fled. As Cathcart gave chase, shots were fired, and he was found deceased in a nearby yard before 5 a.m.
The incident prompted an immediate investigation by the Rock Hill Police Department, who began searching for the gunman. Cathcart was a father of three with another child on the way and was described by his family as a hardworking man who cared deeply for his children. His mother, Cassandra Massey, had previously lost another son to gun violence.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect. Rock Hill police arrested 24-year-old Jakelvin Zyqualyn Conner in connection with the shooting. Conner was subsequently charged with murder, two counts of breaking and entering into vehicles, and two weapons charges. He is being held without bail at the York County jail. The investigation revealed that Conner had allegedly broken into both Cathcart's vehicle and his girlfriend's car. It was during the confrontation that followed this discovery that police say Conner shot Cathcart in a neighbor's backyard. Conner has a history of car break-ins, with prior convictions in 2021 and 2024.
The family of Le'Byron Cathcart, while grateful for the swift arrest, is left to grapple with the senseless loss of a loved one. Balloons and flowers were placed outside his home as a memorial. His parents expressed their heartbreak and mixed emotions regarding the future of the man accused of killing their son. A GoFundMe page was established to help with funeral costs for Cathcart, who was remembered as a "loving and kindhearted person." The case against Jakelvin Conner is now proceeding through the legal system. This tragic event began with an alleged car break-in and escalated to a fatal shooting, leaving a family to mourn and a community to seek justice.
