FRANKLIN, Va. — Roughly 10 months after the deadly shooting of a 10-year-old boy in Franklin, authorities announced the suspected killer has been arrested.
Tashawnda Drayton was wanted on a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated malicious wounding. According to the Franklin Police Department, she was arrested in the Boykins area of Southampton County.
Since the Aug. 9, 2023 shooting that claimed the life of Le'marj Holden and injured a 37-year-old man, authorities have been searching for Drayton who was considered "armed and dangerous."
Le’Marj’s father didn’t want to share his name, but he called the arrest a relief.
“When I heard this news, it was really like a celebration," the father said. "This [is] the start of the healing, but I’m still going through grief... my son wasn’t nothing but 10 years old, innocent, and they took him away. But I’m glad they found the person that did that. I’ve been hoping for this for a whole 10 months now.”
The U.S. Marshals Service has repeatedly called on the public to provide any information that would lead to Drayton's arrest. The latest reward offered was $20,000.
Authorities said Drayton, who is a rapper and goes by the stage name "23 Brazy", was taken into custody at an apartment in Boykins.
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force said they knocked on the apartment's door on Tuesday morning announcing their presence. A relative of Boykins who lived at the apartment opened the door and exited. Shortly afterward, Drayton also surrendered and was taken into custody.
The U.S. Marshals did not say if Drayton's relative or anyone else is facing charges for harboring the fugitive. A spokesperson with the Southampton County Sheriff's Office told 13News Now they aren’t aware of any other arrests in addition to Drayton’s.
Still, Le’Marj’s father hopes anyone that may have helped Drayton while on the run faces consequences as well.
“They’ve got to face them charges, though," he said.
The Franklin Police Department said that four people arrived at the man's residence and an altercation happened between him and Drayton. They said the altercation ended with Drayton firing gunshots that struck both the 10-year-old and 37-year-old.
Drayton was out on bail for another incident involving grand larceny, conspiracy attempted malicious wounding, and destruction of property when the deadly shooting occurred, authorities told 13News Now in August.
In a statement to 13News Now Tuesday, Franklin Police Chief Steve Patterson said, "We are truly thankful for the commitment and dedication of the U.S. Marshals. We are indebted to them for taking Drayton into custody.”