Virginia man sentenced to 53 years for fatal shooting of elijah williams
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Virginia Man Sentenced to 53 Years for Fatal Shooting of Elijah Williams

January 11, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A Virginia state judge on Thursday sentenced Dontae Lashaun Drumgold to 53 years in prison for the 2022 murder of 25-year-old Elijah Williams, court records show.

Drumgold, 28, was convicted in May of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the deadly shooting.

Authorities said officers responded to a residential building on Raleigh Avenue in Alexandria on March 23, 2022, where they found Williams dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Drumgold was indicted by a grand jury on May 8, 2023, and has been held without bail at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center.

The firearm charge carried a mandatory minimum sentence of three years, while first-degree murder in Virginia can result in life imprisonment without parole.

Drumgold’s conviction closes a nearly two-year investigation into the fatal shooting that shocked the Alexandria community.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

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