An 18-year-old Kentucky man, Brailen Weaver, was arrested and charged after a deadly shooting and robbery at a U.S. Bank branch in Berea, Kentucky, on April 30, 2026. According to federal and state investigators, Weaver entered the bank on Chestnut Street at approximately 1:57 p.m. and immediately opened fire, killing two employees before searching through drawers and fleeing the scene.
Kentucky State Police identified the victims as 35-year-old Breanna Edwards of Madison County and 42-year-old Brian Switzer of Jessamine County. Edwards, a bank teller, was pronounced dead at Saint Joseph Berea Hospital, while Switzer, a fellow employee, died at the scene. Both were described by colleagues and community members as kind and dedicated professionals whose loss deeply affected Berea residents.
Surveillance footage captured Weaver fleeing in a silver BMW sedan with Alabama license plate A0DYH97. Investigators traced the vehicle to a Facebook listing under Weaver’s name, and an emergency disclosure from Meta confirmed the account belonged to him. Photos on his social media showed him wearing the same shoes and clothing seen in the bank’s surveillance video, and his physical build matched the suspect.
Later that evening, the FBI located Weaver’s BMW traveling north on Interstate 75. A multi-agency pursuit ensued, with Weaver reportedly reaching speeds of up to 130 miles per hour through Lexington before crashing and fleeing on foot. He was captured around 3 a.m. on May 1 after an extensive manhunt involving Kentucky State Police, the FBI, and local law enforcement.
Federal prosecutors charged Weaver with armed bank robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, and causing death with a firearm during that crime. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that the state would also pursue murder charges, emphasizing that both federal and state authorities were working together to ensure justice for the victims’ families.
Community tributes poured in following the tragedy. Overflow Coffee Company in Berea described Edwards as “a literal ray of sunshine,” while friends and coworkers remembered Switzer as a devoted husband and father of three. Fundraisers were launched to support both families as the investigation continues.
