A York County judge has opted for supervision instead of a cell for the 15-year-old at the center of a deadly shooting that shook a Rock Hill neighborhood last fall.
Yesterday, the teen was sentenced to 15 months of probation after pleading guilty to the death of 14-year-old friend Braylen Jackson inside a Rock Hill apartment. The case stems from a September incident involving a stolen handgun that went off in close quarters, killing Jackson. In court, the judge said there was no evidence the shooting was intentional, a key finding that guided the sentence.
According to WSOC, the judge ordered supervised probation instead of sending the teen to a secure juvenile facility. Prosecutors wrote in court filings that the gun had been stolen from an unlocked vehicle and that the teen had already entered a guilty plea last year to causing Jackson’s death.
How the shooting unfolded
The shooting happened on Sept. 25, 2025, when officers were called to an apartment and found Jackson suffering from a gunshot wound, according to WBTV. Police said the 15-year-old was “manipulating and mishandling” a handgun when it fired, killing Jackson. The teen was arrested on involuntary manslaughter and related charges.
Rock Hill's news release listed the scene in the 1800 block of Springsteen Road and urged anyone with information to contact detectives. Investigators later determined the weapon had been taken from an unlocked car, and prosecutors added charges for breaking into a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen handgun, according to WCCB.
Legal context and juvenile sentencing
Under South Carolina law, involuntary manslaughter is defined as a killing caused by criminal negligence and carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, according to the South Carolina Legislature. In juvenile court, though, judges are required to weigh a young person’s age and potential for rehabilitation when choosing between secure confinement and community-based punishment.
Family Court judges can order probation, psychological or behavioral evaluations, or commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Probation is a common outcome in non-intent cases, according to the South Carolina Judicial Branch and juvenile-justice specialists. When a youth is placed on probation, courts often attach conditions such as counseling, school attendance requirements and strict supervision.
Jackson, identified by officials as a Rock Hill High School student, was mourned by classmates and neighbors in the days after the shooting, WBTV reported. The killing also became a local cautionary tale. Police and area outlets used the case to urge gun owners to lock up their firearms and to highlight the legal and safety fallout that can follow when weapons are left in unlocked cars, according to WCCB.
