20-year-old gets 5 years for spring shooting in Charlottesville

One of the four young men involved in a shooting this past spring in downtown Charlottesville has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Eric Dweh, 20, has been found guilty of attempted malicious wounding, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and violating the terms of his probation. He was sentenced Nov. 26 to 18 years behind bars, with 13 years suspended.

Dweh and at least three others, including two juveniles, were involved in a March 5 shooting at a basketball court in the 700 block of Sixth Street Southeast on the line between the city’s Ridge Street and Belmont neighborhoods.

A little more than a week after the shooting, Charlottesville police, with the assistance of the Virginia State Police and Albemarle County Police Department tactical teams, executed search warrants in the 100 block of Stribling Avenue in Charlottesville’s Fry’s Spring neighborhood as well as the 800 block of Mallside Forest Court in Albemarle County north of the city.

Those warrants first led to the arrest of a juvenile, who has never been publicly identified. That juvenile was charged with attempted malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

A second juvenile, who also has not been identified, was taken into custody later that same week. He was charged with attempted malicious wounding and displaying a firearm in commission of a felony.

Zymir Jakai Brown, a convicted felon wanted on a felony firearm charge connected to the case, was taken into custody March 19 without incident.

Dweh was arrested more than a month later on April 12.

Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania celebrated the sentencing as a victory for the city’s law enforcement agencies, which have been cracking down on gun violence and the illegal firearm trade.

“The Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Charlottesville Police Department, will continue to prioritize the prosecution of firearm-related offenses in our community,” Plantania said in a statement announcing Dweh’s sentence.

Dweh remains in custody at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail just south of the city.

Source: www.dailyprogress.com