On the eve of Thanksgiving, November 27, 2019, the life of William Joseph Spillane, a 27-year-old male, was tragically cut short in a double shooting in Petersburg, Virginia. Known to his loved ones as 'Joey,' Spillane was a father to a young daughter. The incident marked the city's 18th homicide of what was then a record-breaking year for slayings in Petersburg.
In the time that followed, the Petersburg Police Department actively investigated the double homicide.
Approximately a year and a half after the fatal shooting, authorities announced a significant development in the case. On May 25, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, in conjunction with the Petersburg Bureau of Police, apprehended a suspect in connection with the deaths of Spillane and the other victim.
The individual taken into custody was Montie T. Stith, a 26-year-old resident of Petersburg. Stith faced a litany of serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his arrest, Stith was held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail, awaiting legal proceedings.
Further court proceedings revealed the harrowing details of that November night. In a trial that took place in June 2022, a key witness testified that he was on the phone with Spillane when the shooting occurred. The witness recounted hearing a heated argument before the line went silent. According to the testimony, Stith had approached Spillane and the second victim, demanding Spillane exit his vehicle. When Spillane refused, Stith allegedly fired multiple shots into the car, resulting in the two fatalities.
Ultimately, a jury found Montie T. Stith guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The conviction brought a measure of closure to the family and friends of William Joseph Spillane, who had long awaited justice for his untimely death.
