Lancaster police charge South Carolina man in shots fired incident during his brother’s funeral

LANCASTER, Pa. – A South Carolina man is charged in a shots fired incident outside the church where his brother’s funeral was being held last October.  Lovelle Kinon Weaver, 35, was arrested on Friday, January 8 in South Carolina.

The shooting incident happened at about 10:04 am on October 7, 2015, in the area of the 500 block of Chester Street, the same time a funeral service for homicide victim Jared Weaver was taking place at Bethel AME church on East Strawberry Street.

After their initial canvas of the area and interview of witnesses and victims, Detectives reviewed video obtained by Lancaster Safety Coalition (LSC). The video revealed that there was some type of altercation between a male and female just outside of the funeral services. The male left the scene and walked east on Chester Street.  The suspect was recorded on Chester Street behind the victim.

Video also recorded the suspect when he produced a handgun and fired several shots in the direction of the victim and several other people that were outside of their homes in the area. The victim ran east from the area.  He then ran south through backyards away from the area of the shooting.

Subsequent review of other video showed that the suspect had been outside of the funeral services wearing a tee shirt that depicted an image of Jared Weaver. Detectives focused their investigation on friends and family of Weaver and eventually identified Lovelle Weaver, Jared Weaver’s brother whose last known address was in Columbia, South Carolina.

Detective Eric McCrady obtained a warrant for Weaver’s arrest, charging him with Aggravated Assault (F2), Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Sell or Transfer Firearms (F3), Carrying a Firearm Without a License (F3), 5 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) and Discharging a Firearm Into an Occupied Structure (F3).

Weaver is currently being held at a Detention facility in Richland County, South Carolina awaiting extradition to Lancaster County.

Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to call Lancaster City Police Det. McCrady at (717) 735-3359 or Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913.

You can also click the Submit a Tip button on our website,www.lancasterpolice.com, or Text a Tip to Crime Stoppers by texting LANCS plus your message to 847411. Tipsters may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.