Brailen Weaver is an eighteen year old who has been charged with the murders of two bank employees in Kentucky during a bank robbery
According to police reports Brailen Weaver would enter the U.S. Bank in Berea Kentucky in order to pull off a bank robbery. During the commission of the robbery Weaver would shoot and kill two bank employees: 42-year-old Brian Switzer and 35-year-old Breanna Edwards before checking all of the teller drawers and fleeing the scene
Following a police chase that reached speeds in excess of one hundred miles per hour Brailen Weaver would be arrested and taken into custody
Now Braillen Weaver is facing charges of two counts of murder, armed robbery and an assortment of other charges. Bank robbery is always tried at the Federal level and the death penalty may be on the table.
Brailen Weaver News
The suspect in last week’s deadly Berea bank robbery appeared in court for the first time.
Brailen Weaver, 18, walked into the United States federal courthouse Monday afternoon wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans with his hands shackled to a chain around his waist.
The courtroom remained quiet, despite the presence of more than a dozen people. The only thing that could be heard was the muffled sound of sobs.
Weaver is accused of shooting and killing Breanna Edwards, 35, and Brian Switzer, 42, inside a U.S. Bank in Berea last Thursday. Many of their loved ones packed the gallery, sitting just feet away from the man accused of killing them.
Police said it all happened as Weaver robbed the bank where the two victims worked. Investigators said Weaver then led several agencies on an hours-long chase before crashing his car in Lexington early Friday morning.
United States Magistrate Judge Matthew Stinnett read Weaver his rights before listing the federal charges against him. The charges include armed bank robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, and causing death with a firearm during the crime of violence.
The first charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The second charge carries a sentence of five years or more. The third charge carries a maximum sentence of life or death.
If he’s found guilty, Weaver must also pay restitution to the victims’ families.
United States prosecutors asked the court to detain Weaver for the course of this case.
Judge Stinnett agreed to a detention hearing. However, Weaver waived that right and will remain in U.S. Marshals custody. As of Monday evening, he is in the Woodford County Detention Center.
Before Weaver was escorted out of the courtroom by U.S. Marshals, he looked over to his loved ones in the gallery, who cried as he turned away.
Weaver’s defense attorney told WKYT he has no comment.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said he is trying to pursue state murder charges against Weaver as well.
Weaver’s next court date is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Berea bank shooting suspect waives detention hearing, remains in federal custody
Brailen Weaver More News
The person arrested and charged for allegedly killing two bank employees in Kentucky has been identified, and authorities claim the teenage suspect led police on a 130-mph chase before his capture.
The suspect has been named as Brailen Weaver, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as a federal criminal affidavit obtained by PEOPLE that was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on Friday, May 1.
Weaver, 18, has been charged with armed bank robbery, use of a firearm in a crime of violence and causing death with a firearm in the course of the crime of violence, according to the release.
According to the federal affidavit, Weaver, wearing a mask, entered a U.S. Bank located in Berea at approximately 1:57 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 30.
He allegedly shot and killed a male bank employee and a female bank teller, later identified as 42-year-old Brian Switzer and 35-year-old Breanna Edwards, respectively. After shooting the victims, Weaver allegedly “checked multiple drawers and then immediately left the bank,” per the affidavit.
Weaver fled the scene, and authorities said he later posted on social media at approximately 8:00 p.m. that night, sharing a meme of a person in an alien mask holding a pile of cash.
The words “I pledge allegiance to da bag” — a slang term for money — were written across the image, per a photo of the meme contained within the affidavit.
Authorities ultimately linked Weaver to a silver BMW and identified the vehicle on Interstate 75 that night.
Federal, state and local law enforcement then pursued Weaver, and he led authorities on a chase that reached “speeds of approximately 130 miles per hour,” according to the affidavit.
Brailen Weaver crashed his vehicle and fled on foot, per the document.
Weaver was captured by authorities at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office release.
“As alleged, this deplorable act of violence in broad daylight has left two families in Kentucky with unthinkable loss. Our hearts go out to them,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, per the release.
“Thanks to the relentless pursuit of law enforcement, Brailen Weaver is off the street and behind bars, and he will now face justice for his alleged heinous actions,” Blanche added.
Brailen Weaver is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 4, at 2 p.m., according to the release.
The case is currently being investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kentucky State Police and the Lexington Police Department, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Switzer, the first victim in the April 30 shooting, was a husband and father of three, according to a GoFundMe created to support his family.
The fundraiser, which described the shooting as a “senseless act of violence,” claims that he was his family’s sole provider.
“No family should ever have to go through this kind of turmoil, and the goal of this GoFundMe is to assist [his wife] Rachel with funds so that she doesn’t have to stress about financial issues during the most difficult time of her life,” the fundraiser added.
Edwards, the second victim in the tragedy, was described as a “beautiful soul,” per a GoFundMe established to help her family through this difficult time.
“Breanna Edwards leaves behind an incredible family who loved her more than words can describe, all of whom are absolutely devastated by this loss,” according to the fundraising page.
Brailen Weaver, 18, Charged in Kentucky Bank Killings After 130-MPH Chase
