In the fall of 2020, a devoted mother and beloved sister, Makeida Lasalle Thompson, a 32-year-old female, found her life tragically cut short in what would be revealed as a premeditated act of violence. On the morning of November 10, 2020, Thompson was shot and killed in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her death, which occurred in front of her one-year-old son, was the culmination of a volatile relationship with the child's father.
The investigation into
Thompson's death quickly focused on her ex-boyfriend, Terrence Washington. Evidence presented during his trial painted a grim picture of a relationship fraught with conflict, including a temporary restraining order Thompson had sought against him just days before her murder. Text messages revealed Thompson's apprehension about meeting Washington at his grandmother's house that day, even texting him, 'And this ain't no setup?'. Despite her fears, she went to the home, where Washington fired seven shots, striking her four times.
Terrence Washington was arrested and charged with the murder of Makeida Thompson. During the trial, his defense attorney argued that he acted in self-defense, a claim the prosecution refuted with evidence of his rage and premeditation. The jury deliberated for just three hours before finding Washington guilty of first-degree murder in March 2025. Following the verdict, Thompson's family expressed their relief and grief, stating that they could finally begin to heal now that justice had been served. Terrence Washington, 40 at the time of his conviction, received a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
