Jakari Simmons Ross Obituary, Death Cause: 18-Year-Old Fatally Shot in Pineville, South Carolina — Community Mourns as Homicide Investigation Unfolds

In the small rural town of Pineville, South Carolina, nestled along the edges of Lake Moultrie and surrounded by longleaf pine forests, the afternoon of June 19, 2025, began like many others — quiet, unassuming, shaded by summer heat. But by 4:30 p.m., sirens shattered that stillness, signaling a tragedy that would ripple far beyond Gabe Road and change the lives of one family and an entire community forever.

Eighteen-year-old Jakari Simmons Ross, a Pineville native, was found fatally shot inside a crashed vehicle. What was first reported as a car accident quickly became something more sinister: a homicide scene. Jakari had not died from the crash — he had been gunned down. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene, his life ended just as it was beginning to unfold.

As the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office work to uncover who is responsible and why, Jakari’s family and community are left in the painful vacuum of unanswered questions, shattered dreams, and profound grief.

The Scene: A Deadly Afternoon on Gabe Road
According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. on June 19 in response to a reported car crash near the 1100 block of Gabe Road, a rural two-lane stretch lined with ditches, pine thickets, and modest homes set back from the road.

First responders arrived expecting to render aid to a crash victim. Instead, they found Jakari Simmons Ross, alone in a wrecked car, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Though it was initially unclear if he had been shot before or after the crash, investigators quickly determined that the damage to the vehicle was incidental — the result of a shooting, not its cause.

Deputies secured the area as a potential crime scene, closing off portions of Gabe Road and canvassing nearby residences for witnesses or surveillance footage. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was consulted, and detectives from the Berkeley County Major Crimes Unit were activated.

But as of this writing, authorities have yet to release any significant details about suspects, motives, or whether Jakari was the intended target. No arrests have been made, and no persons of interest have been publicly identified.

The official stance: the investigation is “active and ongoing.” For Jakari’s family, that means they are left to grieve without answers — not yet knowing who is responsible, or why their son was taken.

Who He Was: Jakari Simmons Ross
Jakari had just turned 18 in May. He was a recent graduate of Timberland High School in nearby St. Stephen, where he was known for his athleticism, sharp humor, and magnetic energy. Teachers described him as “bright but restless,” a young man who was still trying to find his path after high school — like so many his age.

“He was one of those kids who could make a whole room laugh without even trying,” said Coach Myles Garrett, Jakari’s former assistant football coach. “He had that spark. That leadership. He was figuring it out — he had plans.”

Those plans, according to his mother, Latasha Simmons, included enrolling at Trident Technical College in the fall to study HVAC and electrical systems. Jakari had always been fascinated by how things worked. He loved taking apart old radios, speakers, even his mom’s toaster once.

“He said he wanted to start his own business one day,” Latasha said. “Said he’d call it ‘Ross Repair & Power.’ He had it all mapped out — the colors, the logo, everything. Now that dream is just… gone.”

Jakari was also deeply family-oriented. He helped care for his younger sister, 10-year-old A’Niyah, walked her to the school bus most mornings, and was fiercely protective of her. He loved music, sneakers, and fishing with his grandfather down at the Santee River. To his friends, he was funny, loyal, and always down to lend a hand or an ear.

“He had his struggles, like every teen,” said his aunt, Patrice Murray. “But he wasn’t in a gang. He wasn’t out here hurting nobody. He was just living. Trying to grow. And now somebody took that from him — from all of us.”

A Community in Mourning
In Pineville — population under 3,000 — violent crime is relatively rare. The death of a teenager to gun violence has hit the community like a gut punch.

Within hours of the coroner’s release of Jakari’s name, tributes began flooding social media. His friends posted old photos and inside jokes. His teammates shared highlight clips from high school games. Classmates changed their profile pictures to black-and-white images with the words, “#JusticeForJakari.”

On June 21, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Timberland High School. Balloons in gold and black — the school colors — rose into the sky as a local pastor led prayers. The principal read a poem written by Jakari’s cousin. Students wept openly. Teachers stood in silence. His mother, holding A’Niyah’s hand, spoke through tears.

“I just want whoever did this to come forward,” she said. “I want them to know they didn’t just kill a boy. They killed a whole future.”

The Investigation: Homicide, Not Accident
Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed that the case is being investigated as a homicide. Forensics teams processed the wrecked vehicle, collecting ballistic evidence and combing the interior for fingerprints, shell casings, and other trace materials.

One critical unknown is the location of the actual shooting. While Jakari was found in the crashed vehicle, it is not yet clear if the shots were fired while he was driving or if he had fled another scene after being wounded. Authorities have not said whether the bullets struck from outside the vehicle or within.

“We are following up on all leads,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson stated. “This remains an active case, and we are working diligently to bring justice to the victim and his family.”

Deputies are urging local residents — especially those with home security cameras along Gabe Road or nearby intersections — to review footage from the afternoon of June 19. They’re also seeking any eyewitness accounts of the moments leading up to the crash or suspicious activity in the area.

Despite their appeals, no public breakthroughs have been reported, and the lack of arrests has left many residents on edge.

“Somebody knows something,” said Pastor Lionel Greene of Greater Faith Church in St. Stephen. “This didn’t happen in a vacuum. We owe it to Jakari to tell the truth, to speak up.”

The Larger Context: Youth, Violence, and Unanswered Grief
Jakari’s death comes amid growing concern across South Carolina and the nation about youth violence and unsolved homicides involving young Black men.

According to SLED crime statistics, over 70% of gun homicide victims under age 25 in South Carolina in 2024 were Black males — a trend mirrored nationally. In many cases, the victims knew their assailants. In others, like Jakari’s, investigators are left with few witnesses, no suspects, and limited cooperation.

“We can’t keep burying our children without answers,” said Senator Mia McLeod, who represents parts of the Lowcountry. “Communities like Pineville deserve more — more resources, more investigators, more prevention, more accountability.”

Advocates are calling for expanded violence intervention programs in rural areas, better support for families impacted by trauma, and stronger partnerships between law enforcement and schools.

Meanwhile, the Ross family continues to press for justice — not only for their own healing, but to stop the cycle of silence.

“If you know something and you don’t speak, you’re just as guilty,” said Jakari’s uncle, Terrell Ross. “We need closure. We need the truth.”

Funeral Plans and Community Support
Funeral services for Jakari Simmons Ross are scheduled for Saturday, June 29 at Greater Faith Church in Pineville. The service will include a eulogy by his grandfather, musical tributes from classmates, and a balloon release in his honor.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $15,000 to assist with burial expenses and create a scholarship fund in Jakari’s name for Pineville youth pursuing skilled trades — honoring the career path Jakari had hoped to follow.

Local leaders, including Berkeley County School Board members and Sheriff Duane Lewis, are expected to attend. Additional security will be present at the service due to community tensions and the ongoing nature of the investigation.

A Mother’s Words
In her first public statement since the shooting, Latasha Simmons released a brief but powerful message:

“My son did not deserve to die. He was not perfect, but he was loved. He had goals. He had family. He had a future. Please — if you know anything, speak up. Don’t let Jakari become just another name. Let him be a reason for change.”