Three-year-old Ariana Fair was fatally shot on October 1, 2023, during a custody exchange dispute at the Cross Creek Apartments in Beaufort, South Carolina. Her father, Jonathan Tyleke Fair, 27, allegedly began firing shots around 12:30 p.m. in the apartment parking lot, where Ariana and two other adults were present. A 26-year-old woman sustained serious injuries and a 25-year-old male suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Ariana was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:20 p.m. An autopsy confirmed her cause of death was a gunshot injury. Fair was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He had a prior 2022 conviction for unlawfully owning a firearm and two pending charges of third-degree domestic violence.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Both articles describe a shooting. The Yahoo News article states "Monday's autopsy revealed her cause of death was a gunshot injury." The WYFF4 article states the child "was shot and killed" and Fair is charged with "possession of a weapon during a violent crime."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The Yahoo News article states that "Monday's autopsy revealed her cause of death was a gunshot injury." The WYFF4 article confirms the child was "shot and killed." Being shot constitutes an inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The Yahoo News article's headline reads "Beaufort father wanted for murder of 3-year-old girl during custody exchange dispute." The child's last name is Fair (Ariana Fair), the same surname as the suspect Jonathan Tyleke Fair. The context of a custody exchange and the shared surname clearly establish that Fair is the biological father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The WYFF4 article states "Jonathan Tyleke Fair, 27, is in custody and charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime." The Yahoo News article confirms "Beaufort police obtained arrest warrants Monday for Jonathan Tyleke Fair in connection with the shooting death of a 3-year-old child."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Yahoo News article states that Fair "has two pending charges of third-degree domestic violence, judicial records show." This directly references domestic violence by the parent/caregiver.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Yahoo News article states "Fair was convicted for unlawfully owning a firearm in 2022 and has two pending charges of third-degree domestic violence, judicial records show." The 2022 firearm conviction and the pending domestic violence charges predate the fatal shooting on October 1, 2023, constituting prior criminal history separate from this incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The Yahoo News article provides notable context: the fatal shooting occurred during a "custody exchange dispute" at the Cross Creek Apartments parking lot. Additionally, Fair "was convicted for unlawfully owning a firearm in 2022 and has two pending charges of third-degree domestic violence." Despite this prior conviction for unlawfully owning a firearm and pending domestic violence charges, Fair was still able to possess and use a firearm, resulting in the death of his 3-year-old daughter. The coroner "would not specify the number of times the child was shot," and the police spokesperson "would not answer questions about the number of shots that were fired or whether Fair is the only suspected shooter."
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