Leon Lyle, a 34-year-old man from Petersburg, Virginia, was a self-employed tattoo artist and an underground rap artist known as 'Torch.' On the evening of July 19, 2018, his life was cut short in a sudden act of violence that also claimed the life of his 33-year-old cousin, Bernard Spratley. Lyle, a father of four, was known for his love for his children and family, and his passion for his music and art.
That evening, Lyle and Spratley were in a gold Honda in the 900 block of Augusta Avenue in Petersburg. With them in the vehicle were three teenagers: 15-year-old Tyron Clanton, Talik Warren, and Austin Evans. The group had reportedly been together earlier, with Lyle giving tattoos. After the car stopped, Clanton, who was seated behind Spratley, stepped out of the vehicle, then leaned back in and opened fire. He shot Lyle in the back of the head and then shot Spratley in the neck. Both men succumbed to their injuries.
Following the shooting, the three teenagers fled the scene. An investigation into the double homicide led police to identify Clanton as the shooter. It was revealed that Clanton was a member of a local hybrid street gang affiliated with the Crips. During the investigation, it came to light that the killings were not random. When questioned by one of his friends shortly after the incident as to why he did it, Clanton stated that he was ordered to carry out the shooting by a higher-ranking member of his gang. Evidence gathered from Clanton's cell phone included a picture of him with the murder weapon taken just hours before the killings.
Tyron Clanton was arrested and charged with the murders of Leon Lyle and Bernard Spratley. In June 2019, he was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of using a firearm in the commission of first-degree murder, and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The court had the option of sentencing him as an adult or giving him a 'blended' sentence that would involve serving time in both a juvenile facility and an adult prison.
However, the legal proceedings took a turn in May 2021 when the Virginia Court of Appeals overturned Clanton's convictions. The appellate court ruled that the trial court had erred by not striking a juror who had admitted to being biased in favor of the police. A new trial was ordered for Clanton. Before a new trial could take place, in a separate and unrelated incident, 22-year-old Tyron Clanton was shot and killed in Petersburg on September 29, 2025, following a dispute at a gas station. Police issued arrest warrants for a suspect in his death.
