Justin Chase Prillaman, a 20-year-old male, was a vibrant young man known for his love of life, family, friends, and a deep passion for music. A 2018 graduate of Franklin County High School, his life was tragically cut short on July 14, 2020. On that Tuesday morning, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office received a distressing call reporting shots fired in the 100 block of Salthouse Branch Road in Henry, Virginia.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered a grim scene.
Justin Chase Prillaman was found deceased inside the residence, a victim of gun violence. His younger brother, 18-year-old James Matthew Prillaman, was also found at the scene, critically injured with gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to a hospital for medical treatment. The violent encounter that morning shattered the peace of the Henry community and left a family devastated.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of four individuals in connection with the fatal shooting. Qu'Shawn Manns, Te'Sean Brooks, Sean Schwallenberg, and Leon Mitchell were indicted on a host of serious charges. These included non-capital first-degree murder, malicious wounding, conspiracy to commit burglary, robbery of a residence with a gun, statutory burglary, and multiple firearm offenses. The legal process sought to bring justice for the Prillaman family, who were left mourning the loss of a son and brother while praying for the recovery of another.
In January 2022, the case against Qu'Shawn Manns went to trial. A jury found him guilty on 12 of the 14 charges he faced, including malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit burglary. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the charge of non-capital first-degree murder, resulting in a mistrial for that specific count. Later, in a significant development, Manns, who had been a lifelong friend of Justin's, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison, bringing a measure of closure to a long and painful chapter for the Prillaman family.
