Investigators: 14-year-old's shooting death in Chester County was gang-related

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities in Chester County are investigating a drive-by shooting that left a teenage girl dead late Sunday night.

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Deputies told Channel 9 that the shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. on Pinckney Road.

Authorities said 14-year-old Jada Darayona Jones was hit by the gunfire and died. They said she did not live at the home and was visiting at the time.

Investigators said they were able to track down two suspects and the suspect vehicle within three hours of the shooting.

Rapheal Carter has been charged with murder.

Hezekiah Tinsley was charged with accessory in Jone's death.

We first updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just before 8 a.m. Monday that the victim had been identified. Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in.

The homeowner, Kristy Thompson, said at least three young people were standing outside of the house when the shooting happened. Thompson came outside when she heard six shots.

Jones was shot in the driveway of the home and investigators said she was hit once in the shoulder.

"I can't even imagine what this young lady's family is going through right now," Thompson said. "Because I know if it was my child I wouldn't be able to talk, I wouldn't be able to speak, I wouldn't be able to do nothing."

A nurse driving by the scene stopped and tried to help Jones, but she died later at a hospital in Chester.

Thompson said her 18-year-old son was shot three weeks ago and survived. Investigators said this most recent shooting was the third at that home in just the last couple of months. They said the crime was gang-related.

“The gangs are definitely here," Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood said. "It’s hard for us to combat it without the necessary resources and manpower to do it.”

Chester Deputies say the girl did not live at the home where the shooting happened at around 9 last night. They wouldn’t comment on how many shots were fired. More info on the two arrested as soon as warrants are released. pic.twitter.com/G6qzWfdCOJ
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) June 11, 2018

The sheriff said, usually, people don't cooperate after gang violence, but this time was different.

"Because of this pretty little girl, people started talking," Underwood said. "They should have been talking all along.”

The suspects appeared in court Monday afternoon and were denied bond.

According to officials with Rock Hill Schools, Jones attended Rawlinson Road Middle School and Raven Academy during the 2017-2018 school year.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story. You can also follow reporter Greg Suskin on Twitter. He has been tweeting updates all day and broke the story on Twitter.

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