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Drive-by shooter sentenced in death of 14-year-old girl in Detroit; other suspect facing trial

Jamesha McWilliams killed in drive-by shooting on Waltham Street

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DETROIT – A 24-year-old man was sentenced Friday in the drive-by shooting that killed a 14-year-old girl and critically injured her 17-year-old brother on Detroit's east side.

Dwayne Alonzo Sharpe, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in September. 

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Sharpe was charged alongside two other men: Robert Moore, 19, and Anthony Rodgers, 19. Each were charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, discharge of firearms from a vehicle causing death, discharge of firearms from a vehicle causing serious impairment, discharge of firearms in or at a building causing death, and discharge of firearms in or at a building causing serious impairment. Moore is also charged with give counts of felony firearms violations.

The case against Rodgers was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Moore has a final conference in December.

Sharpe's attorney said Sharpe was behind the wheel of the van used in the shooting, but didn't know his passengers were going to open fire on the home in the 19000 block of Waltham Street.

Sharpe was sentenced to 22 to 60 years in prison.

What happened

The shooting happened Aug. 3.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Teenage girl dead after drive-by shooting on Detroit's east side, police say

Jamesha McWilliams was shot in her chest. She was rushed to a hospital by family members but died from the gunshot wound. Her brother, Jeffrey McWilliams, was listed in critical condition but has been released from the hospital. 

The siblings were inside the home on Waltham Street when someone driving a silver or green minivan opened fire on the home about 11 p.m. Several other family members were at the home, too, but no one else was injured.

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