On a spring afternoon in Norfolk, Virginia, a dispute over rumors escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of a young woman. Twenty-year-old Stariyana Latazia-Lynn Patterson, a Black female, was fatally shot on May 17, 2022, in an incident that unfolded at the Parkwood Manor apartments on West Little Creek Road. Patterson, known for her vibrant personality and passion for music and writing, was not involved in the initial conflict but found herself in the middle of a volatile
confrontation.
The conflict began when 21-year-old Quasia Elizabeth Sheppard went to the apartment complex to confront another woman she believed was spreading rumors about her friend, 21-year-old Arien Dejuan Clinton. The woman initially stayed inside her apartment and called her brother, who arrived with his girlfriend, Stariyana Patterson. A physical fight eventually broke out between Sheppard and the other woman and her friend. After the fight was broken up, Sheppard returned to Clinton's car and asked for a gun.
As the confrontation continued, Clinton handed Sheppard a firearm. The other women began to back away to retrieve a backpack that also contained a gun. As Patterson was unzipping this backpack, Sheppard opened fire, striking her in the face and killing her instantly. Police were dispatched to the scene around 4:10 p.m. and found Patterson suffering from a gunshot wound; she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation, Norfolk Police arrested both Arien Clinton and Quasia Sheppard on May 25, 2022. They were both initially charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. During court proceedings, Sheppard’s attorney argued that the shooting was in self-defense, a claim the judge did not accept based on the evidence presented.
Ultimately, both defendants entered Alford pleas to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction. Arien Clinton was found guilty and sentenced to serve four years and two months in prison for his role in handing the gun to Sheppard. Quasia Sheppard was also found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, with her sentencing scheduled for 2026.
