The afternoon of April 30 started like any other at the U.S. Bank branch on Chestnut Street in Berea, Kentucky. Customers came and went. Tellers handled transactions. Then, at approximately 1:57 p.m., an 18 year old walked through the door and changed everything.
Brailen Weaver, a Kentucky resident, did not approach a teller window with a deposit slip. According to investigators, he began firing immediately. Two employees were struck. One of them, 35-year-old Breanna Edwards of Madison County, worked as a bank teller.
She was rushed to Saint Joseph Berea Hospital but died there. The other victim, 42 year old Brian Switzer of Jessamine County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Both were employees. Both were described by those who knew them as dedicated professionals who showed up every day and treated customers with kindness.
After the shooting, Weaver searched through drawers. Investigators believe he was looking for money. Then he fled. Surveillance cameras captured him leaving in a silver BMW sedan. The license plate, Alabama tag A0DYH97, became a critical piece of evidence. Detectives traced the vehicle to a Facebook listing under Weaver’s own name.
Meta provided an emergency disclosure confirming the account belonged to him. Photos on his social media showed him wearing the same shoes and clothing seen in the bank’s video. His physical build matched.
Later that evening, the FBI located the BMW moving north on Interstate 75. A pursuit began. Multiple agencies joined. Weaver pushed the car to speeds nearing 130 miles per hour as he drove through Lexington. The chase ended when he crashed. He got out and ran. An extensive manhunt followed, involving Kentucky State Police, the FBI, and local law enforcement. Around 3 a.m. on May 1, they caught him.
Federal prosecutors moved quickly. Weaver now faces charges of armed bank robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing death with a firearm in the commission of that crime. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that the state would also pursue murder charges. Both federal and state authorities have said they are working together.
In Berea, the community has begun mourning. Overflow Coffee Company, where Edwards was known as a regular customer, posted a tribute. They called her “a literal ray of sunshine.” Friends and coworkers described Switzer as a devoted husband and father of three. Fundraisers have been launched to support both families. A bank branch on Chestnut Street remains closed. The yellow tape is gone, but the silence inside is heavy.