Lakiesha Sutton, a 23-year-old African American woman from Ahoskie, NC, tragically lost her life on August 3, 2016. She was working as a clerk at Murphy Express Gas Station when a violent incident occurred. In the early hours of that day, a verbal altercation escalated into gunfire at the gas station, located on US 13 south adjacent to the Ahoskie Wal Mart. Lakiesha, who was known for her kind and helpful nature, reportedly went outside to act as a peacemaker before the shots rang out. One of the bullets struck her in the head, and she was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries 16 hours later.
The investigation into Lakiesha's death led to the arrest of Shakur Deandre Stephenson, a 23-year-old African American man who was a family friend of Lakiesha's. He was apprehended in Henrico County, Virginia, on August 11, 2016, and later extradited to North Carolina. Stephenson faced charges of Felony First Degree Murder, five counts of Felony Attempted First Degree Murder, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. The trial began on February 4, 2019, and after a seven-day trial, a Hertford County Superior Court jury found Stephenson guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case highlighted the senseless and brutal nature of gun violence, with District Attorney Valerie Asbell emphasizing the need to prosecute such cases to the fullest extent. The verdict and sentencing also included Stephenson being found guilty of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The tragic loss of Lakiesha Sutton left a lasting impact on her family, friends, and the community, who remembered her as a sweet and caring individual who always sought to help others.
