In the quiet city of Franklin, Virginia, a young life was tragically cut short on August 9, 2023. LaMarj Deshawn Holden, a 10-year-old boy, was fatally wounded in a shooting that erupted from a dispute. The incident unfolded on Artis Street where an altercation outside a home escalated into gunfire. LaMarj was struck by a bullet while he was inside the residence.
Another adult male was also shot during the incident but survived his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect, Tashawnda Drayton. Following the incident, Drayton, who also went by the rap name “23 Brazy,” fled the area, leading to an extensive manhunt. After months on the run, U.S. Marshals apprehended her in June 2024. Drayton was initially charged with first-degree murder for her role in the young boy's death.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Drayton accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to second-degree murder, as well as several other related charges. In court, she admitted that her actions directly led to the death of LaMarj Holden. On a Tuesday in December 2025, a judge sentenced Tashawnda Drayton to 58 years in prison. The sentence also encompassed charges of malicious wounding, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm in an occupied building, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
