In the spring of 2020, the life of 27-year-old Jamesha Sharvell Gilliam, a Black female from Greenville, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. On the evening of March 11th, Gilliam was at a residence on Baxter Street when she was shot. She was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injuries in the operating room.
The investigation into Gilliam's death quickly pointed to a suspect, Natasha Nicole Booker.
Five days after the shooting, Booker turned herself into the Greenville Police Department. She was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The case against Booker was built on witness statements and cell phone records that placed her at the scene of the crime. The situation was further complicated by the fact that at the time of Gilliam's death, Booker was already out on bond for a separate 2019 murder charge.
During legal proceedings, Booker's attorney filed a motion for immunity and dismissal, arguing self-defense. This claim was contested by Gilliam's family, who actively protested to keep the case from being dismissed. A judge ultimately denied the motion, and the murder charge stood. In a turn of events, Booker later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in Gilliam's death. In March 2024, she was sentenced to 18 years in prison. This sentence is to be served consecutively with a five-year sentence she received for a criminal conspiracy conviction related to the 2019 murder case.
