TAMPA (Court TV) — A judge has sentenced Kaliyha Everett to 37 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. The sentence comes two months after a jury found Everett guilty of second-degree murder in the 2015 death of 19-year-old Tysaiah Donaldson. Everett was also found guilty of aggravated assault, but not guilty of robbery, after prosecutors tried to convince the jury that Everett intended to rob Donaldson while purchasing marijuana.
Authorities say then-17-year-old Kaliyha Everett intended to rob 19-year-old Tysaiah Christopher Donaldson when he contacted him to purchase marijuana on December 30.
Eyewitnesses reportedly told authorities that when two men approached Donaldson at his Tampa apartment, one suspect opened fire, hitting him in the chest. Donaldson was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.
Donaldson’s girlfriend and her nephew witnessed the incident, according to investigators.
Over the following weeks, Facebook photos and cell phone data led investigators to the arrest of Kaliyha Everett.
His case has experienced delays after a 2016 psychological evaluation determined he was incompetent to proceed to trial. In June 2018, a judge ruled he was competent.
Everett, now 22, is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 2 – 7/9/21
- Both sides delivers closing arguments:
- Judge grants defense motion for judgment of acquittal on first-degree premeditated murder but leaves felony murder on the table for jury to consider
- Jury reaches a verdict:
- Second-degree murder with a firearm: GUILTY
- Armed robbery: NOT GUILTY
- Aggravated assault: GUILTY
- WATCH: Pot Sale Turns Deadly: Verdict is Read
DAY 1 – 7/8/21
- The jury hears opening statements:
- Both sides agree to dismissal of count 4 — aggravated assault against Andre Smith — after Smith testifies that the person who shot Donaldson did NOT point his weapon at him
- Jury hears testimony from three eyewitnesses who say the defendant fatally shot Donaldson, but otherwise offer vague and conflicting accounts about what the gunman was wearing and other details, such as where Donaldson’s weed-filled backpack was during the shooting and if any money was produced during encounter
- Eyewitnesses Angelice Major – Donaldson’s girlfriend — admits she initially lied to investigators about the reason for the encounter because she didn’t want to get Donaldson in trouble
- Major’s nephew, Andre Smith, also admits to lying to police and for first time on witness stand says he stashed Donaldson’s weed-filled backpack inside the house after the shooting
- Letarries Meteye testifies he identified defendant from a police photo lineup
- DNA analyst testifies that blood stains on khaki pants collected from Letarries Meteye’s home after shooting match defendant’s DNA profile
- WATCH: Pot Sale Turns Deadly: 11 Witnesses On First Day of Testimony
Court TV Legal Correspondent Julia Jenaé and field producer Emanuella Grinberg contributed to this report, originally published July 6, 2021.
