COLUMBUS, OHIO — Q’Juantez Poole, 23, has been sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after at least 27 years, for his involvement in a fatal shooting in 2020.
Poole claimed he was protecting his older brother when he engaged in a gunfight that resulted in the death of Dontey Wiley, 26. Franklin County prosecutors, however, said the brothers opened fire without provocation on a parked car, killing Wile, according to The Colombus Dispatch.
In February, a jury found Poole guilty of five felony counts, including murder, attempted murder, and felonious assault.
With nearly 2½ years of jail time credit, Poole could be eligible for parole in about 24½ years. Defense attorney Joseph Landusky II plans to appeal the verdict.
The incident took place in October 2020 when Wiley and Kari Anderson-Latham were parked at an apartment complex where Quintez Poole, Q’Juantez Poole’s older brother, lived.
Q’Juantez testified that he received a call from his brother, who was worried about the people in the car. Security video captured the subsequent events, including the Poole brothers driving up, exchanging gunfire with Wiley, and then driving away.
Wiley later died, while Anderson-Latham was grazed by a bullet, and Quintez Poole sustained gunshot wounds.
Quintez Poole is due to appear in court on April 25, facing the same charges. During Q’Juantez Poole’s sentencing hearing, he apologized to Wiley’s family, saying, “I’m sorry for the situation that happened. If I could change anything I would.”
Wiley’s sister, Kaiana Edwards, expressed her grief, stating, “Our family is torn apart. We’ll never heal over this.”