CHARLESTON, WV – A West Virginia teen convicted in the fatal shooting of a tobacco store clerk during a robbery last year has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, closing a case that shocked the North Charleston community.
Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers on Wednesday handed down the maximum penalty allowed by law to 15-year-old Barack Williams for his role in the killing of 19-year-old Caden D. Martin. Williams, who was just 14 at the time of the incident, will become eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 15 years, as state law prohibits juveniles from receiving a sentence of life without parole.
The sentencing follows Williams’ conviction last month, when a jury concluded he was culpable for murder committed during the commission of a felony. Prosecutors argued that Williams acted as a lookout while another teenager carried out the armed robbery and shot Martin inside the Tobacco & Pipe shop on the 2000 block of Seventh Avenue on January 30, 2024.
The shooter, Bre’juan Williams-Hampton, also 14 at the time, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a similar life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
During court proceedings, prosecutors recounted chilling details surrounding the crime and its aftermath. Williams, after entering the store, reportedly stole several SpongeBob popsicles in the moments leading up to the shooting. Testimony revealed that, after the robbery, he went home and ate the stolen ice cream, a detail prosecutors cited to highlight his apparent lack of remorse.
Prosecutors also pointed to statements Williams made following his arrest and throughout his trial, which included derogatory remarks about the victim and unrepentant comments directed at corrections staff. During sentencing, it was noted that Williams made several disparaging remarks about Martin and his family, demonstrating what prosecutors characterized as callous disregard for the victim’s life.
Martin’s family members shared emotional victim impact statements in the courtroom before the sentence was imposed. Williams addressed the family, expressing regret for the outcome, but prosecutors maintained he never offered a direct apology or displayed genuine remorse for his actions.
The severity of Williams’ behavior and comments throughout the legal process weighed heavily on Judge Akers’ decision. In remarks addressed to Williams, the judge condemned his lack of empathy, stating that his words and actions after the conviction revealed a “monstrous mindset.”
Akers told the court that, given Williams’ demeanor and the gravity of the crime, she found no difficulty in handing down the most severe sentence available. She emphasized the importance of rehabilitation, warning Williams that failure to change his ways could result in a lengthy incarceration.
The case has drawn widespread attention, illustrating the complexities of trying juveniles implicated in serious violent crimes. While the law offers a chance of parole due to Williams’ age at the time of the offense, the judge closed the proceedings by lamenting that she could not impose a harsher penalty, underscoring the tragic nature of the case for all involved.