NORFOLK, Va. — A judge sentenced a woman to prison on Friday for her role in the death of a Norfolk schoolteacher on New Year's Eve in 2018.
50-year-old Caroline Hendrix, a preschool teacher at Oceanair Elementary School, was shot and killed in what prosecutors said was a case of mistaken identity.
In October of 2018, Teniqu Cushman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit first-degree murder. On Friday, a judge sentenced the 24-year-old to six years and seven months behind bars for her crime.
Edward Shaw, 70, was also charged in connection to this crime. He was charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty in October 2019.
During a hearing in April 2018, Alex Novak was a key witness. In court, he testified that he was with his good friend Caroline Hendrix on New Year's Eve house-sitting for a friend.
Novak said Hendrix went outside to walk a dog but she came back a few minutes later because she saw a man being suspicious. Novak explained Hendrix got into his mother's van. That's where she was shot several times.
Novak said he ran outside and saw Edward Shaw. Novak said he immediately drew his gun and shot Shaw five times, hitting him in the stomach and shoulders.
Investigators said Shaw drove to Chesapeake where he called 911 dispatchers and told them he was in a road rage incident and was shot on the interstate. Investigators said they never found evidence that proved Shaw's claim was true.
Detectives searched Shaw's car and found bullets, binoculars, and a zoomed-in picture of Alex Novak. Investigators also went to Shaw's work in North Carolina and found Novak's phone number and address.
In court, Novak admitted to having a sexual relationship with Cushman.
Officials believe Cushman was in a relationship, seeing, Novak and Shaw. According to her attorney, Cushman ended things with Novak, but he didn't give up.
Investigators said on Shaw's phone they found emails and text messages believed to be from Cushman. One of the messages told Shaw she wanted someone to be taught a lesson. Shaw replied and said he needed more than a lesson.
Investigators believed they were talking about Novak.
Edward Shaw is set to be sentenced on January 16, 2020.