Pageland police and Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting on North Pearl Street in Pageland, South Carolina around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday March 28, 2026. Officers arrived at the residential block and found a 16-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
The teen was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. The shooting occurred in this central part of Pageland a small town in Chesterfield County known for its neighborhoods and community events. No other individuals were reported injured during the incident that unfolded on North Pearl Street.
The victim was identified as 16-year-old Zaden C. Bratsos a Pageland resident and student at the local high school. His sudden death has left family friends and classmates in profound grief as they process the loss of a young man remembered for his positive presence in the Pageland community. The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatality after the initial response on North Pearl Street turning the case into a full homicide investigation.
The suspect was identified as 17-year-old Jeremiah J. Lockhart of Pageland. He turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday March 30 2026 and was taken into custody without incident. Lockhart has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The arrest came after the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office actively sought him in connection with the shooting on North Pearl Street. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation proceeds.
The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the case appears isolated to the parties involved with no ongoing threat to the public in Pageland. Detectives are examining the circumstances that led to the gunfire on North Pearl Street including any prior interactions between the victim and the suspect. The probe remains active with focus on gathering all relevant evidence from the residential block in Pageland.
The Pageland and broader Chesterfield County community has been left in shock over the loss of a 16-year-old boy in the shooting on North Pearl Street. Family and friends have shared tributes highlighting his bright spirit and the void left in the lives of those who knew him. Local residents have expressed sorrow and concern over the violence in a neighborhood that is typically quiet while offering support to the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.
The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into the March 28 shooting on North Pearl Street urging anyone with information to contact authorities or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. The case remains open with focus on the events that unfolded in Pageland as officials work to provide clarity and accountability for the fatal incident. The community holds onto memories of the young victim while the legal proceedings against the 17-year-old suspect advance in Chesterfield County South Carolina.
