A Virginia man fatally shot a Handley High School student two weeks before earning his GED and wounding another in a botched robbery. Now, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Winchester Circuit Court Judge Brian M. Madden sentenced Demetrius Dominique Brown, 21, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Jaiden Isaiah Myers, 18. After two hours of deliberation, Brown, who is a member of the Los Angeles-based Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang, was found guilty and convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, robbery, participating in a robbery that ended in death, and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. However, Brown was initially evaluated and found competent to stand trial. Then, he requested a new attorney, claiming they were not in support of his motion to go to trial, before being denied, according to Patch.
On May 21, 2021, officers responded to the Orchardcrest Apartments complex on Wilson Boulevard in Winchester after reports of a shooting. According to prosecutors, the defendant, who had recently moved to Fredricksburg, planned to rob an acquaintance, Zevyn Dokes, 20, of marijuana back in Winchester. Hence, Brown asked his friends Tony G. "T.J." Peyton Jr., 21, and Jaeden D. Smithers, 21, for help with a ride.
Upon arrival, Dokes, accompanied by Myers and another friend, met the group at the parking lot of a school, but Brown opted to meet in a more seclusive environment due to the amount of cash involved. Then, Dokes invited Brown back to his apartment, where the defendant pulled out a handgun and told everyone in the room not to move. However, as Dokes tried to grab the gun, Brown shot Myers in the head and Dokes in the hip before fleeing the scene.
During the sentencing hearing, Brown apologized to his family and the victim’s family, asking them to forgive him and that he was sorry and loved them all. In addition, his defense counsel argued Brown grew up in an unstable environment without stable parental guidance.
However, the judge didn’t buy it!
"If you hadn't brought a loaded gun to the apartment, we wouldn't be here today. It's a tragedy for you, that you're going to have to serve time, and especially for your victims and their families," said the judge, reported The Winchester Star.
Dokes, who survived the ordeal, testified against Brown in court and told the jury about the health complications that followed after his release from the hospital.
Smithers was charged with two counts of robbing a residence and sentenced to 20 years in prison with eighteen years suspended. On the other hand, Peyton was charged with first-degree murder and is currently awaiting trial.
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