Berea Bank Shooting Victims Identified as Breanna Edwards, 35, and Brian Switzer, 42

 Berea, Kentucky, is grieving after two U.S. Bank employees were fatally shot during an armed robbery on April 30, prompting separate online fundraising campaigns to support their families. Breanna Edwards, 35, of Madison County, and Brian Switzer, 42, of Jessamine County, were killed when a masked gunman entered the bank branch on Chestnut Street around 2 p.m. Thursday, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Justin Kearney.

Kearney said both victims were bank employees who were working their regular shifts when the violence erupted. Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison said one victim was pronounced dead at the bank while the other died at Saint Joseph Berea Hospital. The shooting occurred shortly after the suspect entered the building, turning an ordinary workday into a tragedy that has shaken the tight-knit community.

An 18-year-old suspect, Brailen Weaver, now faces federal charges in connection with the tragic shootings. According to authorities, the suspect fled the scene on foot and was later taken into custody following a multi-agency manhunt that spanned several counties. The FBI has taken over the investigation, with assistance from Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies working jointly.

In the aftermath, family members and community supporters have organized fundraisers to ease the immediate financial burden on the victims' loved ones. A GoFundMe page titled "Support for Breanna Edwards' Family" was created by Lexi Edwards to assist Breanna's husband and family with funeral costs, memorial arrangements, and related expenses during this difficult time.

Additionally, Overflow Coffee Co., a local Berea business, is collecting donations through Venmo and Cash App to help cover funeral expenses for Edwards' family, encouraging customers and neighbors to contribute what they can. The grassroots effort reflects the deep connections Breanna maintained in Madison County and beyond.

A second GoFundMe campaign, "Support for Rachel and Her Children After Tragedy," was organized by Rebecca Carpenter and Tarrah Guthrie to help Switzer's widow, Rachel East Switzer, and their three children. The page states that Brian worked as the sole provider for his family while Rachel stayed home to care for their children, making the sudden loss both emotional and financially devastating.

"No family should ever have to go through this kind of turmoil and the goal of this GoFundMe is to assist Rachel with funds so that she doesn't have to stress about financial issues during the most difficult time of her life," Carpenter wrote on the fundraising page. The message reflects the community's desire to provide stability and compassion as the family navigates grief and an uncertain future.

As of early Saturday, the campaign for Switzer's family had raised $37,604, a total that continues to grow as donations come in from across Kentucky and beyond. The Edwards fundraisers have also drawn significant support, with friends, coworkers, and strangers contributing and sharing messages of condolence. While law enforcement pursues justice, the fundraisers offer a tangible way for the community to honor Breanna Edwards and Brian Switzer and ensure their families do not face the days ahead alone.