On the evening of August 3, 2017, in her home on Waltham Street on Detroit's east side, 14-year-old Jamesha McWilliams was caught in a hail of gunfire. Multiple shots were fired from a passing vehicle, striking the young female in the chest. Her family rushed her to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries. Jamesha's 17-year-old brother, Jeffrey McWilliams, was also critically wounded in the drive-by shooting but survived.
The investigation into the tragic shooting led to the
arrests of three young men from Detroit: 19-year-old Robert Moore, 24-year-old Dwayne Sharpe, and 19-year-old Anthony Rodgers. All three were charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and multiple counts related to discharging a firearm from a vehicle and at a building, causing death and serious injury. Authorities alleged that Moore was the driver and shooter, while Sharpe and Rodgers aided and abetted the crime. Moore also faced additional felony firearm violations.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Dwayne Sharpe pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in September 2017 and was later sentenced to 22 to 60 years in prison. His defense claimed he was unaware of his passengers' intent to open fire on the residence. The case against Anthony Rodgers was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Robert Moore was scheduled for a final conference in December 2017.
The motive for the shooting was not made clear. Jamesha was remembered as a bright and enthusiastic girl who had recently made her high school's cheerleading squad and was looking forward to the upcoming school year.
