In the fall of 2018, Starkisha Thompson, a 33-year-old woman from Detroit, Michigan, found her life tragically cut short in an act of brutal retaliation. On the morning of October 9, 2018, Thompson was discovered fatally shot in the driveway of her home on the city's east side, in the area of Cordell Street and Collingham Drive. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just days before her murder, Thompson had courageously testified in court against a man who had carjacked her. Her family firmly believes that her cooperation with law enforcement made her a target.
The investigation into Thompson's death swiftly moved forward, leading to the apprehension of three individuals. Jah-Lana Streeter, 23, of Detroit, Kenneth Dixon, 26, of Warren, and Corey Holmes, 39, of Detroit, were arrested and charged in connection with the murder. The charges brought against them were severe, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and retaliating against a witness. Holmes, identified as the shooter, faced additional charges for firearm violations. Prosecutors laid out a chilling narrative, asserting that the trio had meticulously planned Thompson's killing after she testified against Dixon in the carjacking case. It was revealed that during the trial, Dixon had managed to obtain Thompson's home address and provided it to Holmes.
The legal process brought a measure of justice for Starkisha Thompson and her grieving family. One of the suspects, Jah-Lana Streeter, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors for a reduced sentence in exchange for her testimony. Ultimately, all three individuals were found guilty for their roles in the heinous plot. Kenneth Dixon and Jah-Lana Streeter were convicted and sentenced for their involvement. In July 2023, Corey Holmes, the man who pulled the trigger and shot Thompson twelve times just six days after her testimony, received a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. He was also sentenced to an additional 6 to 10 years for the witness retaliation charge, to be served consecutively.
