A Detroit man, Marquis Jermayne Goodman, 24, was sentenced to 80 years in prison on Monday for the fatal shootings of two West Virginia women, Bria Nicole White, 26, and Kytiana Belcher, 22, in Charleston in 2021. Goodman had pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in February.
During the sentencing, Goodman's attorneys argued for a lenient sentence, citing his young age and potential for reform. Goodman expressed remorse and apologized to the families of the victims, stating that he did not intend to harm the women. However, a motive for the shootings remains unclear.
The families of the victims urged for the maximum sentence to be imposed. White's mother, Letitia Norman, emotionally addressed Goodman during the hearing, expressing the profound impact of her daughter's death on her life. She lamented the loss and devastation caused by the tragic incident.
Judge Ken Ballard, presiding over the case, highlighted Goodman's extensive criminal record and failed attempts at rehabilitation. He emphasized that Goodman had squandered opportunities for reform and handed down the maximum sentence of 40 years for each count of second-degree murder, to be served consecutively.
The sentencing marked a somber conclusion to a tragic chapter, as the families of the victims continue to grapple with the loss of their loved ones. The community mourns the senseless deaths of Bria Nicole White and Kytiana Belcher, while justice is served with the lengthy prison term imposed on Marquis Jermayne Goodman.
