A 20-year-old New Kent man will serve two years in prison for shooting at a Williamsburg house in what police called a gang-related incident.
Marques Raquan Stephens-Graves, of Barhamsville, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison with three years suspended for shooting at the family home of two rival street gang members in September 2015.
Stephens-Graves pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Jan 19 in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court, according to court records. Two counts of firing into an occupied building were dropped in the plea agreement because a key witness died in an unsuspicious accident, prosecutors said.
Stephens-Graves will be on supervised probation after his release from prison.
Judge Michael McGinty read from Stephens-Graves’ presentence report Wednesday afternoon, noting that the 20-year-old had a “loving” home life and a strong support system.
“Your mother said you were angry growing up,” McGinty said to Stephens-Graves. “I don’t know what happened to you, if you’re just hanging out with the wrong people or what, but you have a chance to turn that around and get on a better path.”
Police reports filed in open court state Stephens-Graves shot at the family home of rival gang members in the 900 block of North Henry Street on Sept. 27, 2015.
Williamsburg Police responded to the house around 8 a.m. for reports of shots fired into an occupied dwelling, and found evidence of gunfire both inside and outside the house, documents state.
Residents reported they heard shots fired, but did not realize their house was struck by multiple rounds. No injuries were reported.
Just hours before the shooting on North Henry Street, another report of gunfire came from a York County home associated with another rival gang member, according to court documents.
Police investigation indicated the two shootings could be connected, documents state. Witnesses reported a light-colored four-door Acura with a loud exhaust in the area at the time of the shootings.
According to documents, police were already investigating two male family members of the home’s residents at the time of the shooting.
According to a criminal complaint, the shooting was “in retaliation for actions believed to have been taken by a rival gang.” No additional information regarding gang affiliations was provided in court hearings.
Fearing may be reached at [email protected].
