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Alexandria man sentenced 53 years in prison for murdering roommate

Published January 10, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated January 10, 2025 at 12:01PM

Dontae Drumgold has been charged with the 2022 murder of a man in the West End (via Alexandria Sheriff's Office)

A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 53 years in prison for murdering his roommate by shooting him in the head as he left for work in the West End.

Dontae Lashaun Drumgold was convicted in May of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a murder in the 2022 death of 25-year-old Elijah Williams. On Thursday (Jan. 9), he was sentenced to 60 years for the first degree murder charge, with 10 years suspended, and three years for the use of a firearm charge. After his release he will undergo five years of supervised probation and must exhibit uniform good behavior for 10 years.

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These three Alexandria politicians just announced their reelection campaigns

By James Cullum

Published January 8, 2025 at 3:45PM

(Left to right) Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th), Sheriff Sean Casey and Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter announce their reelection campaigns to the Alexandria Democratic Committee, Jan. 7, 2025 (via Zoom)

Three prominent Alexandria Democratic politicians threw their hats in the ring for reelection on Tuesday night (Jan. 7).

Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th), Sheriff Sean Casey and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter announced their intentions to run for reelection at a virtual meeting of the Alexandria Democratic Committee. The meeting was supposed to be held at Alexandria City High School, but went virtual because of this week’s snowstorm.

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Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council sworn into office amid ‘backdrop of deep uncertainty’

By James Cullum

Published January 3, 2025 at 11:20AM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, with her family, takes the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the new City Council were sworn into office on Thursday (Jan. 2), ushering in a new era of city governance with the new year.

Gaskins is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of the city. She stood alongside her husband and two children and took the oath of office from Clerk of the Court Greg Parks onstage at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center (4915 E. Campus Drive) at Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus.

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Offending Alexandria businesses ‘put on notice’ about skill games

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2024 at 8:30AM | Updated December 11, 2024 at 9:44AM

Skill games being played at Tiger Mart, 3903 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

More than a dozen Alexandria businesses with skill gaming machines were “put on notice” last month.

The businesses were notified that skill games are illegal gambling machines, and were informed of the legal consequences in a Nov. 19 letter from City Attorney Cheran Ivery, then-Interim Police Chief Raul Pedroso and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter.

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BREAKING: Del Ray man found not guilty after shooting ex in leg with shotgun

By James Cullum

Published October 10, 2024 at 2:00PM | Updated October 11, 2024 at 10:05AM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Del Ray man who shot his ex in the leg with a 20-gauge shotgun was found not guilty of aggravated malicious wounding today.

The jury returned a not guilty verdict today (Thursday) in the case Jovan Saunders, who shot the mother of his child in the leg with a shotgun at his home on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 20, 2023. He was also found not guilty of use of a firearm in commission of a malicious wounding.

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JUST IN: Francis Deonte Rose sentenced 58 years for double murder in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Francis Deonte Rose was sentenced today to 58 years in prison for the 2022 shooting deaths of two construction workers in the West End.

A jury found Rose guilty in May of killing Adrian Dejesus Rivera Guzman, 48, and his stepson, 24-year-old Juan Carlos Anaya Hernandez, on the morning of July 16, 2022 in the northern section of the former Assembly Alexandria apartment complex in the 200 block of Century Place.

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Alexandria woman indicted for child abuse and neglect

By James Cullum

Published July 11, 2024 at 3:30PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A 40-year-old Alexandria woman was indicted on child abuse and neglect charges Wednesday for allegedly abusing a three-year-old and six-month-old child in her care last year.

Rhonda Holland was arrested on July 1 and is being held without bond. She was indicted for two felonies — aggravated malicious wounding and child abuse/neglect.

News

Guilty verdict for man who murdered his roommate in the West End

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2024 at 1:00PM

Dontae Drumgold has been charged with the 2022 murder of a man in the West End (via Alexandria Sheriff's Office)

A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his roommate by shooting him in the head as he left for work in the West End.

Dontae Lashaun Drumgold was convicted of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a murder in the 2022 death of 25-year-old Elijah Williams.

News

D.C. man sentenced 12.5 years for West End carjacking and police chase

By James Cullum

Published May 29, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated May 30, 2024 at 12:44AM

Police car lights (file photo)

A 33-year-old D.C. man was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison for a carjacking that led to a chase with the Alexandria Police Department, a hit-and-run and more.

On Tuesday, Donte Tayvon Thomas was sentenced for his convictions for felony carjacking, felony hit-and-run, felony eluding police and falsely identifying himself to law enforcement.

News

JUST IN: Life sentence sought as Francis Rose found guilty of West End double murder

By James Cullum

Published May 3, 2024 at 6:41PM | Updated May 3, 2024 at 7:32PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Francis Deonte Rose was found guilty today of two counts of aggravated murder in the 2022 shooting deaths of two construction workers in the West End. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office is now seeking a life sentence.

After a four-day-long trial, the jury found Rose guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and unlawful entry. He was found not guilty of burglary.

News

Agenda Alexandria tackles ‘cannabis market in limbo’ Monday night

By Vernon Miles

Published April 22, 2024 at 3:50PM

Marijuana (photo via Wesley Gibbs/Unsplash)

Everything seemed rolled up tight for a legal retail market for cannabis, but a veto from Gov. Glenn Youngkin set those plans ablaze.

Panel program Agenda: Alexandria is meeting tonight (Monday) to discuss the current state of the cannabis market with speakers including Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter and the owner of a dispensary network.