On a spring evening in Hanover County, Virginia, a large party filled with teenagers took a tragic turn, ending the life of 16-year-old Matthew Devine. The male, a White/Caucasian student from Colonial Heights High School, was attending the gathering near McClellan Road and Agape Lane on April 6, 2024, when an argument broke out. Witnesses reported that the dispute began after Devine accidentally bumped into another male, which quickly escalated.
The confrontation moved outside the
residence, where the festive atmosphere was shattered by the sound of gunfire. When Hanover County Sheriff's deputies arrived, responding to calls about the shooting, they found Matthew with a gunshot wound to his chest. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators discovered multiple firearms and ammunition at the location, indicating that several party attendees had been armed.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation led to two arrests. On April 23, 2024, authorities took 18-year-old James Rashawn Smith of Ashland into custody. He was charged with second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, brandishing a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Another arrest was made on April 14, 2024, when 18-year-old Jayvian Marrece Threatt of Petersburg, an associate of Devine's, was charged with attempted murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Threatt is accused of shooting at Smith during the chaotic exchange of gunfire that claimed Matthew Devine's life. The Hanover County Sheriff's Office has continued to investigate the complex circumstances of the shooting, urging anyone who was at the party to come forward with information.
