Kentucky State Police have identified the two employees killed in a deadly bank robbery in Berea as investigators continue a large-scale manhunt for the suspect, who remained at large as of early Friday morning outside the Lexington area.
Authorities confirmed the victims as Breanna Bryant Edwards, 35, of Berea, and Brian Switzer, 42, of Jessamine County. Both were working at the U.S. Bank branch on Chestnut Street when an armed suspect entered the location during a robbery and opened fire, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Justin Kearney.
Officials said Edwards died at the scene, while Switzer was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Berea, where he later died from his injuries.
Trooper Kearney said the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Brailen Weaver, fled the bank on foot after the shooting. Investigators later used a Flock camera system to identify a getaway vehicle, prompting officers to attempt a traffic stop. The suspect allegedly refused to comply, leading police on a high-speed pursuit across multiple counties in central Kentucky.
The chase ended around 9:30 p.m. Thursday when the vehicle crashed, but authorities say Weaver again fled on foot.
By approximately 12:30 a.m. Friday, multiple local, state, and federal agencies were still actively searching for the suspect near his last known location in the area of Johnston Road and Bryant Station Road, close to the Bourbon and Fayette County lines. State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington described the area as a mix of rural horse farms and residential subdivisions, making the search more complex.
Officials stressed that Weaver is considered armed and extremely dangerous, urging the public not to approach him and to call 911 immediately if he is seen.
Beyond the investigation, the victims are being remembered by those who knew them. Edwards, who also ran a photography business, is survived by her husband—whom she recently married—and two school-aged children. Switzer, a client relationship consultant at U.S. Bank, was known for his community involvement and volunteer work with his wife through the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road. He was a graduate of Tate’s Creek High School in Lexington.
Authorities say the investigation remains active as the search for Weaver continues.
