Keveon Ken’Dre Covington Arrested - Second Suspect Captured in Gaffney Bus Stop Shooting
GAFFNEY, S.C. — An hours-long manhunt for 18-year-old Keveon Ken’Dre Covington, who was wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Gaffney High School student Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr., has ended with his arrest.
Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said Covington was captured Thursday, August 13, following an extensive search involving law enforcement officers in the Gaffney area.
Covington Captured After Manhunt
Authorities established a perimeter around the area of Concord Road, Highway 150, Pleasant School Road and Wilcox Road as investigators searched for Covington.
According to Sheriff Mueller, a homeowner on Marlowe Drive contacted authorities after Covington allegedly approached the residence asking to use a phone and for water. Community members reportedly recognized him and attempted to delay him before he fled into nearby woods when officers arrived.
Covington was located shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday and taken into custody without incident, authorities said.
Gaffney Bus Stop Shooting Investigation
The arrest follows the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr., who was shot Wednesday morning while preparing to board a school bus on West Rutledge Avenue.
Authorities said Fair had walked from his apartment to the bus stop at approximately 6:49 a.m. when a male approached him. Following a brief altercation, Fair was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Approximately 15 students were reportedly already on the bus when the shooting occurred.
Investigators have said surveillance footage from the school bus captured the shooter fleeing toward a vehicle.
Charges in the Case
Covington faces murder and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to authorities. His arrest comes after 17-year-old Reginald Louis Barnes Jr. was previously taken into custody and charged as an adult in connection with Fair’s death.
Authorities also reported that a third suspect, who is under 18, was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Spartanburg County. Officials have not publicly identified that juvenile.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the roles of each person involved and establish the complete circumstances surrounding Fair’s death.
The capture of Keveon Ken’Dre Covington marks a significant development in the investigation, but the case remains ongoing. Authorities continue to gather evidence as the legal process moves forward.