South Carolina Teen Appears to Confess to Murder on Facebook, Then Claims He Was Hacked

Stephen Braden Powell is charged in the murder of Ja'Naiya Scott.
Handout / Family Photo

Stephen Braden Powell, 17, is charged with murder in the death of an 11-year-old, as well as four counts of attempted murder in a June 23 shooting.

A South Carolina teen who was arrested after allegedly confessing to murder on Facebook appears to claim he was hacked.

Stephen Braden Powell, 17, is charged with murder in the death of an 11-year-old, as well as four counts of attempted murder in a June 23 shooting. Police said he fired 35 bullets into a home in Anderson together with a second shooter, who has not yet been identified. 

Tragically, Ja’Naiya Scott was killed. Another 11-year-old in the home is in critical condition, police said, and and 18-year-old was also among those injured. 

Investigators arrested Powell after a post appeared on his Facebook page Wednesday stating, “I killed a little girl," according to WHNS.

"The reason I am saying this now is because I feel so guilty and can’t go on like this," the post continued. "... Prayers to her family. I am so sorry."

The post was screenshot before being deleted, according to police. 

Afterward, a second post appeared, claiming Powell had been hacked. 

“Who ever playing on my page stop playing on my life," the post read. "I did not post that and I have nothing to do with any of that someone hacked my page."

Powell was denied bond Wednesday. He has not yet entered a plea.

At the hearing, Ja’Naiya's mother asked Powell:  "I just want to know why."

The arrest came after Ja’Naiya was laid to rest on Tuesday, buried in a purple coffin. Her funeral was paid for by Buffalo Bills player Shaq Lawson.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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