In a tragic turn of events, 35-year-old Amber Ross of Roanoke, Virginia, died on May 19, 2018, from a gunshot wound sustained during a robbery she helped orchestrate. The incident occurred at a residence on Overland Drive in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke County. Ross was actively involved in the planning of the robbery, feeding information to one of the perpetrators, Aaron Witcher.
Text messages exchanged between Ross and Witcher revealed her role in providing details about the house and its occupants to facilitate the crime.
The plan went awry when Witcher entered the home and a struggle ensued with the homeowner. During the altercation, Witcher's gun accidentally discharged. The single bullet fired struck Ross in the neck, leading to her death. The shot was confirmed by the prosecution to be unintentional, with the bullet lodging in a wall behind her. Another individual, a 17-year-old male, was with Witcher during the robbery.
Following an investigation, several individuals were arrested and faced charges related to the incident. Aaron Witcher, 28 years old at the time, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery, and two gun charges. He accepted a plea agreement, pleading no contest, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. His lawyer stated that Witcher never intended to kill anyone and expressed sympathy to Ross's family.
Others were also implicated in the crime. Shamby Walker was arrested for her role in helping to set up the robbery, though she did not directly participate in the act itself. Andrew Jeffers was identified as the getaway driver and was sought on charges of being a principal in the second-degree robbery and burglary with intent to commit robbery. The 17-year-old who accompanied Witcher also faced conspiracy and robbery charges.
