On a Christmas Eve in Brookhaven, Mississippi, what began as a day of last-minute holiday preparations ended in a tragic and senseless act of violence that claimed the life of 26-year-old Demetrius Demond Wilson. The young man, a 2007 graduate of Brookhaven High School, was returning from a shopping trip with his girlfriend to the Cloverdale apartments on December 24, 2014, when the fatal encounter occurred.
As Wilson and his girlfriend arrived in the Cloverdale area, he noticed a man,
later identified as 27-year-old Yaquilla Washington, looking at him. A brief conversation took place between the two men before Wilson and his girlfriend proceeded to another residence within the apartment complex. When his girlfriend went inside, an argument erupted between Wilson and Washington. The verbal altercation quickly escalated, culminating in Washington fatally shooting Wilson with a. 38 special handgun.
Law enforcement was called to the scene at 12:32 p.m. and apprehended Washington a short distance away from the crime scene, recovering the firearm used in the shooting. Washington admitted to the crime and was taken into custody. Initially charged with first-degree murder, Washington was indicted in March of the following year.
Ultimately, Yaquilla Washington pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and an additional count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A judge sentenced him to serve 35 years of a 40-year sentence, with an additional five years of post-release supervision. For the firearm charge, Washington received a concurrent 10-year sentence. He was also ordered to pay a fine and restitution.
