Robbery in Berea ends in deadly shooting: What we know so far
A robbery at a U.S. Bank in Berea turned deadly Thursday afternoon, leaving two employees dead and prompting a multi-agency manhunt. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested Friday morning after a high-speed chase that ended in Lexington, according to police.
Here’s what we know so far about the case:
- The shooting happened around 2 p.m. Thursday at the U.S. Bank on Chestnut Street in Berea. Federal court documents say the suspect shot a man inside the bank, then shot a teller shortly afterward.
- The victims were identified as Breanna Edwards, 35, of Madison County, and Brian Switzer, 42, of Jessamine County, according to Kentucky State Police. Both were employees of the bank.
- Federal court records identified the suspect as Brailen Weaver, 18. Investigators tracked him through a silver BMW with an Alabama license plate he had listed for sale on Facebook, along with social media photos showing clothing matching the suspect’s, according to a federal affidavit.
- The FBI spotted Weaver’s vehicle on Interstate 75 Thursday night. He drove faster than 100 mph, avoided spike strips and crashed into a tree on Bryan Station Road in Fayette County before fleeing on foot. Officials found a gun inside the car.
- Weaver faces federal charges including armed bank robbery, use or discharge of a firearm in a crime of violence and causing death with a firearm during a crime of violence.
- Switzer leaves behind a wife and three children and was the sole provider for his family, according to a GoFundMe that had raised nearly $2,000 by Friday morning. A Berea coffee shop, Overflow Coffee Co., is collecting donations for Edwards’ family.
- Cheryl Leamon, senior vice president of U.S. Bank, said in a statement: “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our colleagues and the entire Berea community.”
The summary points above are based on the reporting of Herald-Leader journalists. The roundup was produced with the assistance of AI. Herald-Leader reporters and an editor reviewed this story for accuracy. You can read more about our AI policy here.