In the fall of 2012, a life was tragically cut short in Des Moines, Iowa. Corey L. Hamilton Jr., a 16-year-old Black male, died on October 13, 2012, from a gunshot wound. The incident that led to his death involved a friend and what appears to be a devastating accident.
On that October day, Corey was at a Des Moines apartment with his 15-year-old friend, Dontavius Sharkey. Sharkey was in possession of a stolen gun and, believing it to be unloaded, pointed it at Corey.
Tragically, the gun was loaded, and it discharged, fatally wounding the 16-year-old.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Dontavius Sharkey, who turned 16 just three days after the incident, faced serious legal consequences. He was charged as a youthful offender in adult court. Sharkey ultimately pleaded guilty to felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless use of a firearm. Though tried in adult court, the judicial system recognized the circumstances of the case, leading to a sentencing arrangement befitting a youthful offender.
