16-year-old charged in shooting that killed Gaffney teenager riding in SUV

GAFFNEY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Gaffney Police Department announced that a suspect was charged after a Gaffney woman was shot and killed while riding in a car Wednesday night.

According to the coroner, 18-year-old Alexis Shaynne Griffin was a front-seat passenger in an SUV heading south on Overbrook Drive near the Zippity gas station parking lot around 10 p.m. They added that the SUV was being driven by her boyfriend.

Two men were reportedly seen on foot near the intersection of West Buford Street, after which gunshots erupted, with one bullet hitting the SUV and then Griffin.

The coroner said her boyfriend sped away from the scene and drove Griffin to Cherokee Medical Center, where she sadly passed away at 11:22 p.m.

Griffin’s cousin Jessica Pearson said Alexis graduated from high school this past year and wanted to go to school to be a cosmetologist. She loved babies, doing people’s hair and people.

Officers said detectives found the 16-year-old suspect on January 5, at around 11:00 a.m., and took him into custody.

According to officers, the 16-year-old was charged as an adult with murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. They added that he was taken to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia.

Anyone with information about this situation is asked to call (864)-489-8115.

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