Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr. Obituary, Cause of Death - 3 Teens Charged With Murder in South Carolina Bus Stop Shooting
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Three teenagers have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr., a Gaffney High School student who was killed while preparing to board a school bus Wednesday morning.
Fair was at a bus stop in the 500 block of West Rutledge Avenue at approximately 6:49 a.m. August 12, 2026, when an altercation occurred. Authorities said Fair was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Approximately 15 students were on the bus or at the stop when the shooting occurred.
Three Teens Charged in Jomiltron Fair’s Death
Authorities have now taken three suspects into custody.
Reginald Louis Barnes Jr., 17, was arrested early Thursday and charged as an adult with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. A judge later denied Barnes bond.
Keveon Ken’Dre Covington, 18, was also arrested Thursday following a large-scale manhunt involving law enforcement officers, drones and helicopters. He has been charged with murder.
A 16-year-old suspect was subsequently taken into custody during a traffic stop in Spartanburg County. Authorities have not released the teenager's name because of his age.
According to Cherokee County Solicitor Barry Barnette, investigators believe two shooters and two guns were involved. Authorities are continuing to determine which suspect fired the fatal shot and what role each person played in the incident.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Jomiltron Fair Was Heading to School
According to the Cherokee County Coroner's Office, Fair had walked from his apartment across the street to the bus stop and was preparing to board the bus when another male approached him.
A brief altercation followed before Fair was shot.
Surveillance footage from the school bus reportedly showed the shooter fleeing toward a waiting vehicle driven by another person.
A student who witnessed the incident described the terrifying moments as students attempted to get away after the gunshot. She remembered Fair as a friend who regularly joked with students at the bus stop.
Fair's family has described him as a young man who loved his family and was preparing to graduate early. Relatives also said he was expecting to become a father in October.
Family and Community Mourn
Fair's death has devastated his family and shaken the Gaffney community, particularly because the shooting occurred as students were beginning another school day.
His grandmother, Tangie Roseboro, previously said that her grandson's death could have been prevented.
“All he was trying to do was make it to Gaffney High School. And he didn't get to make it,” Roseboro said.
The tragedy has also affected the students who witnessed the shooting. Authorities have emphasized the emotional impact of the incident on the young people who were present.
Additional police presence was deployed around the shooting location and local schools following the killing as authorities worked to reassure students, families and residents.
Investigation Continues
Investigators continue working to establish exactly what led to the confrontation and determine the individual roles of the three suspects.
Authorities have said the investigation includes reviewing surveillance footage and examining evidence recovered during the case. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Special Victims Unit and Department of Child Fatalities also assisted with the investigation because Fair was under 18.
For Fair's family, however, the investigation cannot change the heartbreaking reality that a 17-year-old who was simply preparing to go to school will not return home.
Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr. will be remembered by his family, classmates, friends and members of the Gaffney community whose lives were touched by his presence. His death has left a profound void, and his loved ones now face the difficult task of grieving while seeking justice and answers.
May Jomiltron rest in peace.