Alayshia Cartiana Powe, a 17-year-old African American girl, tragically lost her life on July 5, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida. Alayshia was an upcoming senior at Ed White High School and was known for her vibrant personality and passion for fashion. She was deeply loved by her family and friends, who remember her as a beautiful and funny young woman who left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
On the day of her death, Alayshia was found with a fatal gunshot wound on
Jacksonville's Westside. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. in the 9500 block of Watershed Drive South. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and discovered Alayshia's body. The investigation revealed that she had been shot and killed by Tremayne Robinson, who was also 17 years old at the time. Robinson was arrested and charged as an adult for the crime.
The legal proceedings that followed were a source of significant distress for Alayshia's family. Tremayne Robinson was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter, with an additional five years for evidence tampering. The sentences were set to run concurrently, and with time served during the trial, Robinson is expected to be released in 11 years. Alayshia's mother, Letitia Strickland, expressed her dissatisfaction with the sentence, feeling that justice had not been adequately served. She described the punishment as a "slap on the wrist" and emphasized the lifelong pain her family endures due to the loss of Alayshia.
Throughout the trial, Alayshia's family and friends remembered her as a young woman with a bright future. She had been recognized as the employee of the month at the McDonald's where she worked and had aspirations of attending college and law school to become an attorney. The impact of her death on her loved ones is profound, and they continue to honor her memory while grappling with the grief and sense of injustice surrounding her untimely death.
