Current:Home > Contact-usVirginia man sentenced to 43 years after pleading guilty to killing teen who had just graduated-LoTradeCoin
Virginia man sentenced to 43 years after pleading guilty to killing teen who had just graduated
View Date:2024-12-23 15:20:30
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A young man accused in last year’s fatal shooting of a teenager who had received his Virginia high school diploma minutes earlier at a public event pleaded guilty on Thursday to first-degree murder and a firearm-related charge and was sentenced to 43 years in prison.
Amari Pollard, 20, entered the plea during the fourth day of his trial in the shooting outside the Huguenot High School graduation that left 18-year-old Shawn Jackson dead, news outlets reported.
Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant, who sentenced Pollard, suspended 18 years of the sentence, meaning he could be eligible for release in 25 years, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
Pollard entered the plea after Marchant made two decisive rulings against him earlier Thursday. The judge ruled against a motion to downgrade Pollard’s charges and the admission of certain evidence.
Both Jackson and his stepfather, Lorenzo Smith, were shot and killed at the conclusion of graduation ceremonies outside Richmond’s Altria Theater, located on the outskirts of Virginia Commonwealth University. Five other people were wounded by gunfire, and at least 12 more suffered other injuries or were treated for anxiety due to the mayhem, police said.
Pollard initially also was charged in Smith’s death, but prosecutors later dropped charges, determining after a longer investigation that they lacked the evidence needed to try him for that shootings.
At the time of the violence, Richmond police said that Pollard knew Jackson and the two had been embroiled in a dispute for more than a year. A report prepared by a law firm for the Richmond Public Schools and released in January said that Jackson had been kept home for months because of fears for his safety but was still allowed to attend commencement ceremonies.
Richmond City Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin said in a news release after the pleas that Pollard’s “callous and thoughtless actions in a public graduation in a public space in the middle of the afternoon are the sole reason that he is going to serve 25 years in prison. His actions and his actions alone.”
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Prosecutors say some erroneous evidence was given jurors at ex-Sen. Bob Menendez’s bribery trial
- Constance Wu Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2
- Love endures for Ukrainian soldier who lost both arms, sight during war
- Kendall Jenner Is Not Well After Serving Up Drinks With Mom Kris Jenner in Hilariously Boozy Video
- Michelle Obama Is Diving Back into the Dating World—But It’s Not What You Think
- Victoria Beckham Performs a Spice Girls Song With David Beckham and Teases More to Come
- The 16 Best Beauty Launches From July 2023: Rare Beauty, Rhode, Kylie Cosmetics, Olaplex, Tower 28 & More
- Ariana Grande Scrubs Dalton Gomez Wedding Photos From Instagram Amid New Romance With Ethan Slater
- Cameron Brink set to make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
- Barbie Director Greta Gerwig Reveals She Privately Welcomed Baby No. 2 With Noah Baumbach
Ranking
- Pete Alonso's best free agent fits: Will Mets bring back Polar Bear?
- Carlee Russell Searched For Taken, Amber Alert Before Disappearance, Police Say
- Kendall Jenner Is Not Well After Serving Up Drinks With Mom Kris Jenner in Hilariously Boozy Video
- Carlee Russell's disappearance was 'hoax'; charges possible, police say
- John Krasinski Reveals Wife Emily Blunt's Hilarious Response to His Sexiest Man Alive Title
- Not Sure How To Clean Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine? These Pods Will Last a Whole Year
- Disney Singer CoCo Lee’s Funeral Details Shared
- 24-Hour Deal: Skechers Washable Sneakers and Free Shipping
Recommendation
-
Michelle Obama Is Diving Back into the Dating World—But It’s Not What You Think
-
Love Island U.K.'s Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury Engaged After Welcoming Baby
-
Bella Hadid Seeking Daily Treatment for Lyme Disease Amid Health Journey
-
See Sister Wives Star Tony Padron's Transformation After Losing Nearly 100 Pounds
-
High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes for 59, Victor Wembanyama for 50
-
Barbie Casting Director Reveals the Stars Who Had to Turn Down Ken Roles
-
Constance Wu Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2
-
This $30 Deal on an $80 Soniclean Electric Toothbrush Will Give You Reasons To Smile