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Woman sentenced in 2018 east Charlotte murder

CHARLOTTE — A woman pleaded guilty on Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a woman in east Charlotte that happened four years ago.

Yamina Rookard was charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon after the murder. She was 17 at the time of the shooting, but was 21 years old when she was sentenced.

Yamina Rookard

Officers were called around 11:20 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2018, to the scene at Eastcrest Drive and Central Avenue and found a woman who had been shot.

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Jessica Dawn Smith, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Channel 9 crews watched as detectives searched for clues behind a nearby business.

Rookard was transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County jail after the killing and was charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

In court Thursday, prosecutors said Rookard shot Smith in the back of the head outside an east Charlotte laundromat.

A judge sentenced Rookard to 80-108 months in prison.

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