Chrisean Nealy, a 17-year-old resident of Richmond, California, was tragically killed on the night of September 16, 2016. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Bella Vista Apartments located at 3400 Richmond Parkway. Around 10:30 p.m., residents reported hearing multiple gunshots, prompting police to respond to the scene. Upon arrival, officers found Nealy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite being transported to a local hospital, Nealy was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The initial investigation suggested that the shooting was targeted, although the exact motive remained unclear at the time.
The case took a significant turn when DaWaun Rice, a 23-year-old man from Vallejo, was identified as the suspect in Nealy's murder. Rice was also linked to another murder that occurred just three days after Nealy's death. On September 19, 2016, Javonte Prothro, a 29-year-old man, was found fatally shot in the parking lot of the Bayview Mart at 1025 S. 47th Street in Richmond. Investigators were able to connect Rice to both murders through various pieces of evidence, including video surveillance footage, GPS monitoring of his cellphone, and the firearm used in both crimes. Additionally, blood droplets found on Rice's recently shaved dreadlocks were linked to Prothro through DNA analysis.
In 2017, a Contra Costa County grand jury indicted Rice for the murders of both Nealy and Prothro. Rice eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of murder and was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison in December 2019. The prosecution highlighted that Nealy's death was the result of a drive-by shooting, while Prothro was killed during a robbery committed by Rice. The sentencing provided some measure of closure to the families of the victims, who had endured the tragic loss of their loved ones due to Rice's actions.
