In the cold of a January night in Richmond, Virginia, the life of 23-year-old Eric Delonta Darby was tragically cut short. On January 12, 2011, Darby, a young Black man, was found inside a vehicle in the 1300 block of North 28th Street, suffering from a gunshot wound. The discovery was made around 8:30 p.m., and he was quickly transported to VCU Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The initial investigation into the shooting led Richmond police to a home in the 2700 block
of R Street, where they believed the fatal shot was fired. Evidence gathered at this location pointed to a domestic dispute as the catalyst for the violence. Within a day of the shooting, an arrest was made. Shakeia T. Gaskins, a 20-year-old woman, was taken into custody and charged with the murder of Eric Darby. Further investigation revealed that the shooting was not a random act of violence but stemmed from a personal conflict.
Following her arrest, Shakeia Gaskins was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In October 2011, she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. As a result of her plea, Gaskins was sentenced to 10 years in prison. This plea brought a legal conclusion to the case, leaving behind the sorrowful memory of a young life lost to a senseless act of violence.
