Heartbreaking Tragedy: 7-Year-Old Skylar Baker Shot in the Head by Stray Bullet While Sleeping During Drive-By in South Carolina — Suspect Still at Large
PAGELAND, S.C. — A South Carolina community is reeling from heartbreak and outrage after a 7-year-old girl, Skylar Baker, was critically wounded when a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting tore through her home and struck her in the head as she slept peacefully in her bed.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 1, around 1:17 a.m., in the Brewer Circle neighborhood of Pageland. According to the Pageland Police Department, someone drove past the quiet residential street and opened fire. One of the bullets penetrated the walls of a home where young Skylar was asleep, ultimately hitting her in the right side of her brain.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and found the child gravely injured. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital where she remains in critical condition, currently on a ventilator, fighting for her life.
“This little girl did not deserve this careless act of violence,” the police said in a statement. “We are heartbroken that Skylar is suffering because of someone who had no regard for the life of others.”
Authorities have yet to make any arrests in the case and are actively seeking help from the public to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for the drive-by. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with neighbors, but so far, no leads have led to an arrest. Police are urging anyone with information — no matter how small — to come forward.
Skylar’s mother, Essence Chambers, spoke through tears to ABC News, recounting the horrific moment her daughter’s life was shattered. “The bullet came right through our home and struck her in the head while she was sleeping,” she said. “She’s just 7 years old. She was in her bed. Safe. Or so we thought.”
Essence described her daughter as “a ball of energy” and “a happy child who loves to dance, sing, and light up a room with her smile.” Her older sister, Kiara Chambers, described Skylar as someone who “was full of life” and “loved by everyone.”
“She didn’t deserve this,” Kiara said to Queen City News. “Nobody deserves this. She’s just a baby.”
Residents of Brewer Circle are shocked by the violence, with many describing the neighborhood as typically calm and family-oriented. “A drive-by? That’s something you hear about in movies, not here,” said Melissa Massey, a neighbor. “Now, a child is clinging to life. It’s devastating.”
Local law enforcement is calling on the community to break the silence and help bring justice to Skylar and her family. “We believe someone knows who did this,” police said. “We need that person to do the right thing.”
As Skylar remains in the ICU, her family is holding on to hope and asking for continued prayers. A candlelight vigil is being planned by loved ones and neighbors later this week, and a GoFundMe has been launched to help cover mounting medical costs and support the family during this crisis.
Community leaders and child safety advocates are also calling for more action to combat gun violence and better protect neighborhoods from reckless shootings.
“This shouldn’t happen anywhere — and certainly not to a child asleep in her own home,” one local pastor said.
As the investigation continues, one truth remains: a little girl’s life has been forever changed by an act of violence that never should have happened. The search for the person responsible continues — and so does Skylar Baker’s fight for her life.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pageland Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.