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Murder of UVA contractor on the Corner leads to 43-year sentence for shooter

Crystal Graham
judge banging gavel in courtroom
(© francescosgura – stock.adobe.com)

The trial for the 2023 murder of a University of Virginia contractor has come to a close today with a 43-year sentence announced for the accused.

Lakori Rayquan Brooks, 21, will serve an active sentence of 28 years with 15 years of the time imposed by the court suspended in the shooting death of Cody Brian Smith, 26, on March 18, 2023.

The deadly shooting occurred in a parking lot near Elliewood Avenue on the Corner in Charlottesville.

The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Charlottesville Police Department. The victim died several hours after the shooting.

Police arrested Smith two days later after serving search warrants in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

“Senseless gun violence like that which took the life of Cody Smith cannot be tolerated, and the severity of the sentence imposed in this case reflects just that,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nina-Alice Antony.

Related story

21-year-old Charlottesville man arrested in death of UVA contractor
Published date: March 20, 2023 | 7:55 pm

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.