An 18-year-old Kentucky man accused of carrying out a deadly bank shooting in Berea has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges connected to the attack. Authorities say Brailen Weaver is accused of killing two people during an attempted robbery at a U.S. Bank branch on April 30.
According to federal investigators, the shooting happened around 2 p.m. inside the bank branch located in Berea, a city roughly 40 miles south of Lexington. Court documents allege that Weaver entered the bank armed with a firearm and opened fire shortly after going inside. Prosecutors say a bank employee and a bank teller were both fatally shot during the violent incident.
Authorities allege that after the shootings, Weaver searched through several bank drawers before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Law enforcement agencies quickly identified him as the primary suspect, triggering a pursuit along Interstate 75.
Investigators said the chase ended after Weaver crashed the vehicle while attempting to escape. Officers then took the 18-year-old into custody without further violence. Following his arrest, federal prosecutors filed several serious charges against him, including armed bank robbery, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and causing death with a firearm during the commission of a violent offense.
During his recent court appearance, Weaver pleaded not guilty to all federal charges. A judge later scheduled his trial for July. If convicted, prosecutors said Weaver could face the death penalty because the charges involve multiple killings connected to a federal bank robbery case.
In addition to the federal prosecution, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office is also pursuing separate state murder charges related to the deaths of the two victims.
The deadly shooting has deeply shaken the Berea community, with residents mourning the loss of the bank employees killed during the attack. Investigators continue reviewing surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements as preparations for trial move forward.
Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed a possible motive behind the alleged robbery and shootings. The case remains under active investigation by both federal and state law enforcement agencies.
