Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
124-130 week juvenile sentence doled
A packed Lincoln County Courthouse awaits the plea and sentencing of Koedi White in Lincoln County Juvenile Court Tuesday, May 30.
DAVENPORT - A packed Lincoln County Courthouse watched 17-year-old Koedi V. White plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in Juvenile Court Tuesday, May 30.
White was sentenced to 124-130 weeks in juvenile detention on the first charge and an additional 30 days confinement with credit for 30 days served on the second charge by presiding judge Jeffrey S. Barkdull per a plea agreement between both parties after the case was remanded to Juvenile Court from Superior Court earlier this month.
The charges stem from a shooting in Reardan Wednesday, Feb. 22 that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Shadrach Hall-Turner.
Barkdull handed down his sentence after a nearly two-hour court proceeding that included statements from White, prosecuting attorney Adam Walser, defense attorney Grant Riva and various family members of Hall-Turner.
Walser, who was first to take the stand, said hours of investigating video and audio related to the incident that night concluded that all five boys in the basement of the 150 West Summit Avenue house were high on marijuana during the shooting incident and White brought a loaded Taurus .38 revolver he took from under his grandmother's bed in rural Spokane County to the Reardan home.
White and Hall-Turner began to throw the loaded and cocked gun back and forth while high, Walser said.
"They were literally throwing the gun back and forth," he said. "At some point, that gun fired...any one of those boys could've died."
Walser said the state concluded the shooting was not intentional, but White should still bear accountability for his actions.
"It could've been Shadrach sitting in that chair," Walser said, motioning to where White was sitting, "and Koedi in a casket."
"But it's not," someone yelled from the back of the courtroom before being reprimanded by Barkdull.
Walser said the state was "obligated by statute" to consider the rehabilitative potential of children when deciding an appropriate recommended sentence.
"Someday Koedi is going into society, and the state believes placing Koedi White into an adult facility isn't an attempt to rehabilitate but brings him out a broken man," Walser said.
Several members of the deceased Hall-Turner gave victim statements. Court administration read submitted statements from Hall-Turners' father and step-mother, who were present via Zoom.
His father said poor parenting by all five boys' guardians played a large role in that night's events.
"Each one of those five young men should've known better. None were taught guns aren't to be played with, and not to lie to the police when something horrible happened," his statement read. "The parents have just as much culpability...if the gun was properly stored...(he'd still be here)."
"A lot of people share the blame. I'm not without shouldering some blame. Koedi's punishment is too light, and several other people should also be on that stand."
Hall-Turner's stepmother, Jessica Turner, said via prepared statement that the incident was a product of poor parenting and supervision.
"You don't just leave your friend to die," she said.
Hall-Turner's aunt, Mary Hoyt-Sims, said the family's life changed dramatically after the death.
"How do you keep going when someone you loved is ripped from your arms?" she questioned. "How was the gun not locked up so a teenager couldn't take it?"
"I also question the prosecutor about whether Shadrach would receive a fair trial because he is mixed-race," she said. "We want to know in the last five minutes of Shadrach's life."
Hoyt-Sims then addressed White directly.
"If bad stuff starts happening, I guarantee it's Shadrach haunting you," she said. "You still have your life ahead of you...may God have mercy on your soul."
Another aunt, Sue O'Brien, said the death has caused declined health amongst several family members.
"None of us have been able to answer the question, why Shad?" she said. "Feb. 22 was a day of choices. Koedi chose to get the gun, shot it off, get it triggered, get it cocked. That gun got pointed at (Hall-Turner's) chest and the trigger got pulled. It's not an accident, it was a choice. I call it a murder case, not a manslaughter case, because that's what it is."
Hall-Turner's grandmother, Tina Hall, said the choices all five boys made were reckless and that the other three boys in the basement that night have faced minimal consequences.
She then said the court proceedings have indicated there is more interest in justice for White than her grandson.
"How much rehabilitation can you do in 2.5 years?" she said. "Koedi's a bully and has an assault charge. I'm convinced he doesn't care and hasn't learned a thing. I don't believe Koedi will be rehabilitated in that amount of time."
White's attorney, Grant Riva, took the stand next and said White admitted his actions were reckless.
"Koedi will suffer responsibility for the role he played," Riva said. "Nobody's taking this lightly. The recommendation is much higher than the standard range...he's going to go away for 2.5 years and will have to be successful to avoid the criminal system. We know not everybody is happy with the agreement, but we believe it's appropriate based on the circumstances."
White himself next addressed Hall-Turner's family.
"I've come here today to apologize to Shadrach's family," a tearful White said. "He was my best friend and filled the room with laughter."
"In my time being incarcerated, I've been in denial. I wish I could take it all back. Being incarcerated has changed me for the better...This is nothing less than tragic, and nothing I do or say can bring him back. With all my heart, I'm truly sorry."
Barkdull said he saw remorse in White while handing down the sentence.
"It was callous and reckless of Mr. White to bring a gun," Barkdull said. "Why were five boys smoking marijuana? Where were the parents? How did Mr. White get access to that firearm? It looks like there's a lot of people that bear responsibility here."
"I recognize what the victims said, but I don't want to put a boy in adult prison for seven years. I see remorse in him. It would destroy his life. He still has a chance."
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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