In the winter of 2015, a tragedy struck Richmond, Virginia, cutting short the life of a bright and vibrant 12-year-old girl. Amiya Moses, a sixth-grader at Henderson Middle School, was visiting friends on a Saturday evening, just weeks after celebrating her birthday. Amiya was known for her love of singing and dancing, a young girl with dreams of a future in the spotlight.
Her life, however, was tragically cut short on December 19, 2015, when she was caught in the crossfire of a violent dispute.
That evening, a car drove up to the apartment complex on Old Brook Road where Amiya was standing outside with friends, and shots were fired. In the chaos that ensued, Amiya was struck by a stray bullet. She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Her death was the result of an ongoing neighborhood dispute, a conflict in which she played no part. Her mother, Kele Wright, described her daughter as someone who could light up a room and was loved by everyone who knew her.
In the days following the shooting, the Richmond Police Department, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, made arrests in connection with Amiya's death. Two 20-year-old men, Dwight Q. Jackson and Shaquille D. Maxwell, turned themselves in to the authorities and were initially charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The investigation would eventually lead to the conviction of four men for their roles in the death of the innocent middle school student.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for Amiya and her grieving family. Davarn “DJ” Hancock was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison. Demichael Billie received a 20-year sentence on a second-degree murder charge. Dwight Jackson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement. Shaquille Maxwell was found guilty of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and transporting or possessing a firearm, resulting in a 14-year prison sentence.
