PAINESVILLE – Two people convicted in the murder of 20-year-old Ashtabula man Wyllyam Sheffey Jr. were sentenced over the past week.
Lakeisha Jackson, a 45-year-old Painesville resident, was convicted by a jury in May following a trial before Lake County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Condon. She was sentenced Friday, June 26, to 49-53 years to life in prison.
Jackson was found guilty of several felony charges: murder, complicity to murder, four counts of felonious assault and six counts of kidnapping. Each of these counts also carried firearm specifications.
Avion Gaines, a 19-year-old from Painesville, was found guilty on all counts June 7 and convicted Monday, June 29, to 70-75 years to life in prison.
A jury found Gaines guilty of complicity to aggravated murder, complicity to murder, murder, as well as four counts of complicity to felonious assault and six counts of kidnapping. Each of these counts also carried firearm specifications as well.
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. that day to reports of gunfire on 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,” Chief Daniel Waterman said in a statement following Sheffey’s shooting.
Two other men have been found guilty in connection with Sheffey’s killing.
Aviantae Atterberry was found guilty of aggravated murder on Tuesday, June 16, with sentencing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, according to court records.
Zy’avier Jackson was found guilty of murder, complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated murder, four counts of felonious assault, six counts of kidnapping and three counts of discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises on Friday, June 26, with sentencing scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27.
Solomon J. Gaston, another man accused in Sheffey’s killing is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on Tuesday, July 7.
