A fourth man in Virginia involved in the murders of a mother and her baby in 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday.
Shyheem Martin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years, with five of those years suspended. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 10 years on that charge, with all of those years suspended.
The shooting in April 2021 left 30-year-old Sharnez Hill and her 3-month-old baby, Neziah, dead. Three other people were also injured in the incident.
Three other people were previously sentenced in this case.
Donald Hemmings was sentenced earlier this month to 10 years on a charge of voluntary manslaughter, with six of those years suspended. He was sentenced to 10 years on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder, with all 10 of those years suspended.
Kevon Bynum was sentenced to 52 years in prison in March 2022 after he pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree murder and three charges of malicious wounding.
Kavon Bynum was sentenced to a total of 140 in prison, but with some of the time suspended, and has an active sentence of 38 years behind bars. The remaining 102 years will hang over his head upon release, including, according to the CAO, 45 years for the rest of his life.
Another suspect in this case, Sha Mondrick Perry, has a plea hearing scheduled for Sept. 25.
On April 27, 2021, a shooting at The Belt Atlantic apartments on Midlothian Turnpike resulted in the death of 30-year-old Sharnez Hill and her 3-month-old daughter, Neziah. Three other people — a 29-year-old woman and two girls, aged 11 and 15 — were taken to the hospital with injuries.
Richmond Police reported the five females were innocent bystanders who were outside enjoying the nice weather in a large courtyard when the shooting happened.
According to court documents, 18-year-old Kavon Bynum, his twin Kevon and three others were driving by the apartments when they saw someone they disagreed with having a group cookout. Four of the suspects exited the vehicle with ski masks on.
Three guns were recovered at the scene — an assault rifle and two handguns.
The following day, police arrested three men in connection with the shooting.
A week later, the Richmond Police Department identified Kavon and his twin brother as additional suspects. Both were soon arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
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