2 sentenced in 2009 murder of Rock Hill teen

ROCK HILL, S.C.,None — Two men involved in a 2009 fatal shooting on Byars Street in Rock Hill were convicted on several charges and sentenced last week in court.

Davontay Darrell Henson, 19, was convicted on the murder of 18-year-old Tyrone King, shooting another man, criminal conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a violent crime and three counts of armed robbery. He has been sentenced to life without parole in the courtroom of Judge John C. Hayes.

Donte Reid, 19, was convicted on three counts of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during violent crime and criminal conspiracy. He was acquitted of murder and sentenced to 35 years without parole.

Two women involved in the incident — 21-year-old Aileen Newman and 24-year-old Samantha Ervin — were also charged.

Newman pleaded guilty last year to criminal conspiracy, assault and battery with intent to kill, and three counts of armed robbery. Ervin also gave a full confession, and they will be sentenced later this month.

Newman faces up to 35 years without parole, while Ervin faces up to 25 years without parole.

The convictions stem from an October 2009 incident. About 11 p.m. Oct. 1, King was robbed and shot in the head with a rifle on the porch at 436 Byars Street in the Sunset Park neighborhood, according to a Rock hill police report.

He later died from his injuries at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. A friend who was with him at the time was also shot in the leg but recovered.

During the week-long jury trial, defense for Reid argued that Reid was not armed during the robbery and left before the shooting happened.

According to evidence presented, Henson and Reid plotted to rob King and two other men as they sat on the porch on Byars Street. Reid approached the trio and tried to lure them into the street where Henson and Newman waited armed with a rifle. Once the men were in the street, the plan was to jump them and rob them, officials said in court.

The men did not leave the porch, and Reid reported to Henson and Newman they were not armed. Reid did not return to the porch.

A few minutes later, Henson and Newman went to the porch and robbed the three men of $25 in cash, a pack of cigarettes and two cell phones. As they walked away, Henson opened fire, hitting King in the head and another man in the leg and foot. The third man called 911.

Ervin sat in a car nearby and served as the getaway driver. All four went to her house after the robbery.

Reid was caught the next day and confessed to his involvement. He eventually named the other three involved in the incident.

Henson was found a year later in Baltimore.

Solicitor Kevin Brackett called for the life sentence, pointing out that the shooting was without provocation of any sort.

"All three victims cooperated and handed over their money and valuables," Brackett said. "They did not attempt to defend themselves and Mr. Henson's decision to open fire on the victims could only have been motivated by malice and the sheer thrill he derived from doing violence to another human being."

Brackett and Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson prosecuted the case. The verdict was read just before 7 p.m. Friday.

WSOC