Kickball game set for Saturday honors life of 4-year-old Ja’Karie Breland in Hampton County

by Aaron Dixon

VARNVILLE, S.C. (WTOC) - A special kickball game will bring the Hampton County community together Saturday evening to honor the life of Ja’Karie Breland and to keep his name alive.

This year marks the fifth annual kickball event held in Breland’s memory. His family says kickball was one of Ja’Karie’s favorite games, especially during family gatherings.

Hit-and-run case still under investigation

Ja’Karie was killed in December 2020 after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike along Palmetto Avenue in Varnville with his uncle and dog, according to his family. The driver left the scene.

Police previously charged a suspect, but the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Varnville Police have since reopened the investigation, and the family continues to search for answers.

“I’m going to continue to fight”

Ja’Karie’s mother, Latrell Davis, said the annual game is about honoring her son while also keeping pressure on the investigation.

“That was my little boy, and I am going to continue to fight, run, walk, whatever I got to do to find out what happened to my son,” Davis said.

Davis also holds onto a box filled with some of Ja’Karie’s favorite items, along with belongings that were found with him the day he was hit, as a reminder of the life her family is still grieving.

Purple shirts, the Breland name, and the number 10

Each year, the tournament features a themed shirt. This year’s design includes purple, a color Davis says symbolizes royalty.

The shirts will also include the last name “Breland” and the number “10,” in recognition of what would have been Ja’Karie’s 10th birthday in October.

Davis said the game has grown each year, and she’s thankful for the support as the family continues to mourn and seek justice.

“There is somebody out there that is supporting me and what I am doing for my son, to get justice for him,” Davis said. “I feel like the more that we do this, the more it’s going to weigh on somebody’s conscience to come forth and say what happened.”