A Sweet 16 in Ladysmith on November 10, 2007, ended in tragedy when 16-year-old Raquel Hunter of Caroline, Virginia, was struck in the head by gunfire and died at the scene. The shooting followed a fight that broke out after a group was asked to leave the community center’s parking lot; a 15-year-old boy was also shot and survived.

Police charged nine people in connection with the killing — four adults and five juveniles. Adult defendants named in charging announcements included 23-year-old Lashawn Monroe, 18-year-old Antoine Johnson, 19-year-old Dwight Smith II, and 19-year-old Deon Terrell. Prosecutors used Virginia’s murder by mob statute against members of the group; Monroe faced additional individual counts, and later admitted to firing a handgun after initially denying a weapon. Deon Terrell pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony malicious wounding by mob and received a suspended 20-year sentence. Reports say eight of the nine defendants were ultimately convicted, with sentences ranging from suspended time to as long as 50 years.

Are there readers who attended that event or have information about who was present in the parking lot that night?