An 11-year-old girl, TaShya Michelle Jay, was killed on the evening of June 9, 2021, in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, when a stray bullet struck her inside a home on Madera Road. TaShya was at a friend’s house with her mother and younger sister when gunfire erupted during a nearby party; the family dropped to the floor for safety. A bullet traveled through an exterior wall, pierced a refrigerator TaShya was hiding behind, and struck her in the head, killing her instantly. A 13-year-old in the home was also wounded but survived. Investigators said the shootout involved at least six people and 48 shots were fired.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested 29-year-old Quayshaun X. Clark and charged him with murder, attempted murder, possessing a weapon during a violent crime, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. Authorities reported ballistics tied a round fired from an AK-P7 assault pistol Clark admitted firing to the bullet that killed TaShya. The community later planted a red maple tree in her memory.

Did anyone in the area see or hear anything that night that could add detail about where the shots came from or who was involved?