In the early morning hours of New Year's Day, a party in Hayes, Virginia, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 19-year-old Tyler Heywood of Mathews. The gathering, held at a residence on Guinea Road, was filled with people when an argument erupted between two individuals, escalating into a physical altercation outside.
Corbin Chase Winnington, who was 15 years old at the time, had a verbal dispute with 22-year-old Damarkus Key in the kitchen.
The confrontation moved outdoors, where other fights were already taking place. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with a crowd watching the altercations. During the turmoil, Winnington, while on the ground, fired a gun. The gunfire struck Key in the upper thigh and lower buttock area. Tragically, a bullet also struck Tyler Heywood, who was a bystander and not involved in the disputes. Heywood was found deceased at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound.
Following the shooting, Winnington fled the location before law enforcement arrived. He later turned himself into the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office. He was initially charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office pursued having him tried as an adult.
During the trial, testimony revealed that Winnington had acquired the gun on New Year's Eve from a 13-year-old. He stated he felt unsafe at the party and had loaded the weapon after arriving. Witnesses provided accounts of the fight and seeing Winnington shoot from the ground. Following a two-day trial, a jury convicted Corbin Chase Winnington, then 16, of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Tyler Heywood. He was also found guilty of two counts of unlawful wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
