Qasseem Dixon has pleaded guilty to the voluntary manslaughter of 9-year-old Da'Miyah Barton-Pickens in a drive-by shooting that shook the community of Silverton. The deadly encounter occurred on July 10, 2023, and Dixon now faces 30 to 35 years behind bars, according to a plea agreement detailed in a report by FOX19.
The incident, which prosecutors believe to have been motivated by retaliation over a drug issue, was not a random act of violence. Dixon, alongside two accomplices, fired an estimated 30 gunshots into the house on Plainfield Road, tragically striking and killing Da'Miyah, who was inside her grandmother's home. According to Local12, during the court proceedings, Da'Miyah's grandmother recounted the horrific ordeal, stating she had to "replay in my head over and over again" the sound and the chaos surrounding the fatal shooting.
In an emotional testimony, Laticia Copeland, the grandmother of the young victim, addressed Dixon directly, expressing the profound loss felt by the family and her dissent over the agreed punishment, as obtained by WLWT. She remarked, "You took the life of the party. The love of everyone is away from all of us. None of us are the freakin' same anymore."
Further to this tragic case, Ryan Brown, an alleged accomplice, is set to appear in court on July 15. Compounding the gunmen's scheme, a third individual, Demario Williams, was reportedly involved in a crash while attempting to cover up the murder. This collision also landed Dixon with serious physical injuries. Williams was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. As told by Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey to WLWT, the act of violence was thought to be aimed at a relative of the young girl, who was not on the premises at the time.
The community and justice system alike will now begin to process the aftermath of this heinous crime, as the guilty plea brings a portion of closure to a case that has left a family and community irrevocably altered. Dixon, expressing remorse, stated in the hearing via WLWT, "It was never intentional, it was not intentional, that's not who I was coming for. I wasn't coming for her," as he acknowledged his daughter and family, emphasizing the unintended consequences of his actions. This sentiment, however, brings little solace to the grieving family of Da'Miyah Barton-Pickens.
