In the quiet town of Seneca, South Carolina, the life of 26-year-old Ajhai Yvonne Tarawa Gambrell, a Black female, was tragically cut short on May 29, 2023. What began as a missing person case soon unraveled into a story of violence and betrayal, leaving a community in shock and a family grappling with a devastating loss. On that fateful evening, family members returned to their home on South Gate Drive to a disturbing scene.
Inside, they found blood, and both Ajhai and her boyfriend, 25-year-old David Delgado Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were gone. Witnesses reported seeing Delgado hastily leaving the residence in a silver Chrysler 300, speeding away as family members tried to stop him.
The grim discovery of Ajhai’s body was made the following day near the intersection of Wells Highway and Porsche Lane. The Oconee County Coroner's Office confirmed that she had died from a single gunshot wound to the neck, and her death was ruled a homicide. The investigation quickly zeroed in on Delgado, who was in a relationship with Gambrell and had been staying with her at the residence. Evidence found at the home, including a bullet hole in the bathtub, pointed towards a violent confrontation. Authorities determined that an AR-15 rifle was used in the commission of the crime.
Following the discovery of Ajhai's body, law enforcement located and arrested David Delgado Jr. in Chesterfield County, Virginia, after a pursuit. He was initially held on local charges there before being extradited back to Oconee County on July 26, 2023. He was formally charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Delgado was denied bond and remained in custody at the Oconee County Detention Center.
In September 2025, David Delgado Jr. pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. During the court proceedings, Delgado attempted to make a statement but was met with an emotional outburst from the victim's family. Described by the solicitor as a 'senseless' act, the murder case concluded with Delgado being sentenced to 40 years in prison for the shooting death of Ajhai Yvonne Tarawa Gambrell.
