PAINESVILLE – A jury found a Painesville man guilty of the June, 2025, murder of Wyllyam Sheffey Jr. on Thursday, April 23, in the Lake County Court of Common Pleas.
Avion Gaines, 19, of Painesville, was found guilty of murder with a firearm specification, complicity to aggravated murder with a firearm specification, complicity to murder with a firearm specification, four counts of complicity to felonious assault with a firearm specification and six counts of kidnapping with a firearm specification.
Gaines was tried before Judge Jeffrey Ruple.
Wyllyam James Sheffey Jr., 20, of Ashtabula, was found dead behind the wheel of his vehicle Saturday evening, June 7, 2025, in downtown Painesville.
Painesville Police Lt. Toby Burgett confirmed police and emergency medical personnel responded just before 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, to reports of gunfire in the area of North State Street between Erie Street (U.S. Route 20) and Rockwood Drive, where they found Sheffey, apparently shot while stopped at the intersection.
His vehicle was still in the roadway when police arrived, according to authorities.
The shooting took place a few blocks away from the Painesville Community Improvement Corp.’s Spring Block Party at Veterans Park and was “not a random act of violence,” Painesville Police Chief Daniel Waterman said.
Gaines will be sentenced on Monday, June 29 at 8 a.m.
