Katy Brooke Jones, known to her loved ones as "Sassy," was a compassionate and multifaceted 36-year-old woman dedicated to caring for others. A resident of Williamston, South Carolina, the White female worked three jobs: as a Production Supervisor at NRTC Automation, a Labor and Delivery Nurse at AnMed, and a talented Nail Technician. Born in Greenwood, she was remembered for her vibrant personality and passion for helping people.
On the morning of Friday, May 17, 2024, Jones arrived for
her shift at NRTC Automation in Piedmont. Just before 6:45 a.m., as she sat in her car in the company parking lot on Exchange Logistics Park Drive, a man approached her vehicle. The man, later identified as 33-year-old Derek Snyder, opened fire, shooting Jones multiple times before fleeing the scene on foot. Emergency responders treated Jones at the scene and rushed her to a Prisma Health hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries at 7:49 a.m. The coroner ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation. Investigators identified Snyder, a former coworker of Jones at NRTC, as the suspect. Evidence collected at the scene led authorities to Georgia, and an extensive manhunt ended just hours after the shooting. Working with law enforcement in Gwinnett County, Georgia, officers located Snyder in Buford, about 100 miles from Piedmont. They conducted a traffic stop and took him into custody without incident.
Snyder was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Though he initially refused extradition from Georgia, authorities obtained a Governor's Warrant to secure his return. On August 6, 2024, Snyder was extradited to South Carolina and booked into the Anderson County Detention Center.
A judge subsequently denied bond for Snyder. As of August 2024, he remains in custody at the Anderson County Detention Center, awaiting trial on the charges against him.
