On a late summer evening in 2016, a sprawling house under construction in a quiet Chesterfield, Virginia neighborhood near Lake Chesdin became the scene of a chaotic and tragic event. What was promoted on social media as a 'mansion party' drew a crowd of over 300 people on September 4th. The festivities, however, descended into violence, resulting in the death of 24-year-old Marc Starkes, a Black male from nearby Amelia. Another young man, 22-year-old Duval Turner Jr., also lost his life in the ensuing gunfire, and a third individual was wounded.
The party, fueled by drugs and alcohol, spiraled out of control as more than 70 gunshots erupted from at least seven different firearms. The Chesterfield Police responded to reports of the shooting in the early morning hours and discovered the grim aftermath. The investigation that followed was extensive, leading to the arrests of seven individuals, who authorities identified as being associated with gangs.
The suspects, ranging in age from 18 to 21 at the time, faced a range of serious charges. Djion C. Bowles, Kennson Clairsaint, Corey T. Harris, Kendric R. Hill, Devin D. Taylor, and Tevon J. Todd were all charged with second-degree murder, gang participation, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A seventh suspect, Devontrey Harris, was charged with gang participation and shooting into an occupied dwelling.
As the legal process unfolded, the cases against some of the accused took different paths. In October 2016, charges were dropped against Kennson Clairsaint and Corey T. Harris. Later, in February 2017, the charges against another of the men were also dropped. Devontrey Harris also saw the charges against him dropped.
For two of the accused, the judicial process led to convictions and significant prison sentences. Kendric R. Hill pleaded guilty to murder, manslaughter, and firearm charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Devin D. Taylor was convicted by a jury on charges including second-degree murder. The resolution of the cases for Djion C. Bowles and Tevon J. Todd is not publicly documented in available online sources. While the arrests brought a measure of relief to the unnerved community, the underlying motive for the burst of violence that claimed the lives of Marc Starkes and Duval Turner Jr. remains largely unspoken in public accounts of the tragic night.
