On the night of February 25, 2012, Vladimir Sadin, a 24-year-old Black / African American male from Accomac, Virginia, was at a party near Parksley when a dispute erupted. The altercation ended in gunfire, and Sadin was fatally wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen. The following day, law enforcement began searching for Mark Smith in connection with the deadly shooting.
Within a short time, the investigation led to the arrest of two suspects. Jakori Evans, who was 18 years old at the time, was taken into custody. Police also apprehended Mark Smith. Both men were charged with second-degree murder for their alleged roles in the death of Vladimir Sadin. According to the investigation, Smith was the individual who shot Sadin after a struggle ensued when Smith attempted to force his way into the party.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Jakori Evans entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded no contest to a felony charge of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. Under the terms of the agreement, he was sentenced to serve two years of a 10-year sentence, with the remaining eight years suspended. This resolution came with the condition that he maintain good behavior and adhere to the terms of his probation upon release.
The trial for Mark Smith, the man accused of firing the fatal shot, commenced in September 2012 in Accomack County Circuit Court. The prosecution and defense presented their opening statements to a jury composed of both African American and Caucasian members. The medical examiner testified that Vladimir Sadin's death was the result of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. A firearms expert also provided testimony, indicating that at least three different firearms were discharged at the scene of the party.
