A quiet Sunday evening in Henrico, Virginia, was shattered by gunfire on August 27, 2017, leaving two people dead and a community in shock. The victims were 32-year-old Devon L. Blowe and 31-year-old Lakisha L. Lewis. The incident, which unfolded in the Highland Springs area, was quickly determined to be a double homicide, prompting an intensive investigation by the Henrico County Police Division.
In the days following the tragic deaths of Blowe and Lewis, investigators worked diligently
to piece together the events that led to the fatal shootings. Their efforts soon focused on a single suspect, Ricardo L. Turner Jr. Evidence gathered at the scene and through subsequent inquiries pointed to Turner's involvement, leading to his arrest. He was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The legal proceedings against Ricardo L. Turner Jr. moved through the Henrico County court system. During the trial, the prosecution presented its case, laying out the evidence that they argued proved Turner's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense, in turn, challenged the evidence and witness testimony. After hearing all the evidence, the jury found Turner guilty of both murders and the associated firearm charges.
Following his conviction, a sentencing hearing was held to determine the penalty for his crimes. The court handed down a significant sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offenses. For the murder of Devon Blowe, Turner was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with an additional three years for the firearm charge. For the murder of Lakisha Lewis, he received another 40-year sentence, plus three years for the accompanying firearm charge. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of 86 years of incarceration. An appeal of his conviction was later denied, upholding the court's original judgment.
