In the late hours of a Saturday night in Charleston, South Carolina, the life of 15-year-old Rakeem Xavier Jordan Baker was cut short. On August 24, 2024, gunfire erupted at an apartment complex on Ashley River Road just before midnight. When Charleston Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they found the male teenager with several gunshot wounds.
Despite their efforts to render aid until emergency medical services arrived, Rakeem died at the scene from his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a complex and tragic series of events. Authorities determined that Rakeem and an 18-year-old relative, Desean Matthews, had allegedly conspired to commit an armed robbery. Their intended target was a 17-year-old male. During the attempted robbery, the 17-year-old was shot and wounded. However, he was also armed and returned fire, striking and killing Rakeem.
Following the investigation, the Charleston Police Department charged Desean Matthews with attempted murder and armed robbery for his role in the failed robbery that led to his cousin's death. Matthews was taken into custody and booked at the Al Cannon Detention Center to await a bond hearing. The 17-year-old who was the intended victim of the robbery and who fired the fatal shot was hospitalized with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. As of the latest reports, no charges have been filed against him, and the investigation remains active.
