A gathering at a mansion under construction in the upscale Chesdin Landing neighborhood of Chesterfield, Virginia, turned tragic on September 4, 2016, ending in a double murder. Among the victims was Duval Turner, Jr., a 22-year-old male. The late-night party was shattered by the sound of gunshots, and when authorities arrived, they discovered the lifeless bodies of Turner and another man, 24-year-old Marc Starkes of Amelia. A third person was also wounded in the shooting but survived.
The ensuing investigation into the violent deaths led by the Chesterfield County police pointed towards gang involvement. In a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, six men, reported to be gang members, were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as Djion C. Bowles, 20; Kennson Clairsaint, 20; Corey T. Harris, 19; Kendric R. Hill, 20; Devin D. Taylor, 21; and Tevon J. Todd, 18. Each faced serious charges, including second-degree murder, felony gang participation, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A seventh individual, Devontrey Harris, was also arrested on charges of gang participation and shooting into an occupied dwelling.
As the case proceeded through the legal system, developments led to the dismissal of charges against three of the accused: Kennson Clairsaint, Corey T. Harris, and Devontrey Harris. The prosecution continued against the remaining suspects. In March 2018, one of the men, Kendric R. Hill, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in the deadly shooting. While the arrests brought some measure of resolution, a clear motive for the killings was not immediately made public by investigators, leaving a cloud of unanswered questions over the violent end to what should have been a festive occasion.
