In the winter of 2017, the life of 18-year-old Sidea Lashae Griffin was tragically cut short in Virginia Beach. A senior at Kempsville High School with plans to attend nursing school, she was shot and killed on the evening of January 14th. That night, Griffin and her boyfriend, Freddy Pilataxi, had plans to see a movie. Before heading to the theater, Pilataxi arranged to sell marijuana to 17-year-old Ethan Torres, a deal that was set up through Instagram.
The meeting took a fatal turn in
the Green Run area of the city. Torres attempted to rob Pilataxi of the marijuana. During the attempted robbery, as Pilataxi tried to drive away, Torres fired a gun into the back of the vehicle. A single bullet struck Griffin in the back. Pilataxi rushed her to Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries shortly after their arrival around 9:45 p.m.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Virginia Beach police quickly identified Ethan Torres as the suspect and took him into custody. He was charged with second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Although he was a juvenile at the time of the incident, Torres was tried as an adult.
In December 2017, Ethan Torres pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Subsequently, in May 2018, he was sentenced to 33 years in prison for his role in the death of Sidea Griffin. The tragic event left a lasting impact on the community, with friends and family remembering Griffin as a person with a 'beautiful soul' and a warm smile during a candlelight vigil held at her high school.
