Jada S. Watts, affectionately known as Jada May StrongMama Watts, was only 30 years old when her life was cut short in a shooting that also left an 11-year-old girl wounded in Richland County, South Carolina. She had recently celebrated her birthday, was close to completing her training as a medical assistant, and had plans for a future she would never get to see. Now, her family is left mourning a woman whose life ended before she could reach another major milestone.
The shooting happened during the early hours of Saturday, November 7, 2026, on Haverford Drive in Richland County. According to authorities, deputies were called around 5 a.m. after reports of shooting victims at the 200 block of Cricket Ridge in neighboring Lexington County. Investigators later determined that the shooting had actually taken place in Richland County.
When emergency responders arrived, they found Jada unresponsive near a vehicle outside a residence. She had suffered a gunshot wound to her upper body. Despite efforts to help her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An 11-year-old girl was also found inside the residence with a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was rushed to a hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released further information about her condition.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased woman as Jada S. Watts, 30, of Columbia, South Carolina. Her death was confirmed in an announcement released on Sunday, November 8. The investigation remains active as authorities work to establish exactly what happened.
Beyond the police report, Jada’s death has left behind a family and friends who knew her as much more than another shooting victim. A tribute shared by someone who knew her described her as someone who brought light to the workplace and had a spirit that people remembered.
She was also close to completing her studies to become a medical assistant. That achievement was within reach, and she had every reason to look forward to the next chapter of her life. For those who watched her work toward that goal, knowing she would never get the chance to finish must make her loss even harder to accept.
Her mother, Stephanie Rudolph Watts, is among the family members now facing the painful reality of losing her. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have also raised concern for the young girl who was injured. Two lives were affected that morning, and one family will never be the same.
At 30, Jada had so much more to experience. More birthdays, more family moments, more opportunities and the chance to build the future she had been working toward. Her name will now be remembered by those who loved her, not for the way her life ended, but for the person she was before that morning.