Martavies Jarvel Blake, a 21-year-old African American male from Rockford, Illinois, tragically lost his life on April 7, 2018. Martavies was born on December 27, 1996, and attended Auburn High School. He was remembered fondly by his family and friends for his loving nature and the joy he brought to those around him. His untimely death left a significant void in the lives of his loved ones.
The circumstances surrounding Martavies Blake's death were both shocking and tragic.
On the night of April 7, 2018, Martavies, along with Daijon K. Sistrunk, 22, and Sean M. Anderson, 27, were aboard a party bus rented by Raheem King to celebrate his birthday. The celebration took a deadly turn when King, armed with a rifle and a handgun, opened fire on the bus. According to trial testimony, King had received a call from his girlfriend that their home had been robbed at gunpoint by two masked men. Believing that the three men on the bus were involved in the robbery, King ordered the bus driver to stop at his house, checked on his girlfriend, and then returned to the bus to confront the men.
Once back on the bus, King ordered some passengers to the back and began shooting. Martavies Blake was shot twice, Daijon Sistrunk was shot once, and Sean Anderson was shot at least three times. The defense argued that King acted in self-defense, believing the men were armed and planning to rob him. However, the prosecution maintained that these were acts of retribution, not self-defense.
Raheem King, 24, was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder for the deaths of Martavies Blake, Daijon Sistrunk, and Sean Anderson. In addition to the murder charges, King was also convicted of armed robbery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and aggravated unlawful restraint. The trial concluded with Judge Deborah Schafer finding King guilty of the charges. The judge noted that while the murders were not proven to be cold, calculated, exceptionally brutal, and heinous beyond a reasonable doubt, the evidence supported the conviction for first-degree murder.
On July 14, 2020, Raheem King was sentenced to natural life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentencing brought some measure of closure to the families of the victims, although the pain of their loss remains. The mothers of the victims, including Teva Moore, Martavies Blake's mother, have expressed their grief and the ongoing impact of the tragedy on their lives. They have also committed to working with black youth in Rockford to help prevent future violence and honor the memories of their sons.
