Wyllyam James Sheffey Jr., a 20-year-old Black male from Ashtabula, was remembered by his family as a "ball of joy" who was full of love, laughter, and light. His mother, Tiffany Phillips, said he loved to make people laugh, and his unexpected death left an immeasurable void in the lives of those who knew him.
On the evening of June 7, 2025, Wyllyam was driving through downtown Painesville, Ohio, when gunfire erupted.
Police were called to the intersection of North State Street and Rockwood Drive just before 8 p.m. and found him in the driver’s seat of his car, which had stopped in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people in the area suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses reported hearing dozens of shots, and police quickly determined that the shooting was a targeted act of violence, not a random event connected to a nearby community block party.
An intensive investigation began, involving local, county, state, and federal law enforcement partners who processed a large volume of evidence and witness accounts. On July 10, 2025, authorities announced the arrests of four Painesville men: Zy’avier Jackson, 23; Aviantae Atterberry, 20; Solomon Gaston, 19; and Avion Gaines, 18. They were arraigned on charges including aggravated murder and kidnapping and were held without bond.
During court proceedings, a detective described the shooting as a coordinated ambush. Investigators alleged the men used multiple vehicles to pursue Wyllyam’s car and box it in at the intersection. According to testimony, three of the men took positions around the car and opened fire while a fourth blocked his path of escape.
By mid-2026, a series of trials and plea agreements brought the case to a close. A jury found Aviantae Atterberry guilty of aggravated murder, and in August 2026, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Avion Gaines was convicted of complicity to aggravated murder and was sentenced to 70 years to life in prison. Solomon Gaston pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, felonious assault, and illegal discharge of a firearm.
A jury also convicted Zy’avier Jackson of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. A fifth person, Lakeisha Jackson, was convicted of complicity in murder, kidnapping, and other charges in connection with the killing. She was sentenced to a term of 49 to 53 years to life in prison. As of August 2026, all five individuals charged in the death of Wyllyam Sheffey had been convicted.
