LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Lynchburg announced a man pled guilty to the 2022 murder of 33-year-old Estevez Cabell.
According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, 26-year-old Malik Ray-Shawn McDaniel pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and the Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Murder. Additionally, Virginia law required prosecutors to dismiss the charge of Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place while they pursued the charge of Use of a Firearm. This decision was made due to the mandatory minimum term of incarceration associated with the Use of the Firearm offense.
Evidence showed that on the evening of June 28, 2022, Estevez Cabell went to the Salvation Army located at 2215 Park Avenue to play basketball. Caleb was still in his vehicle when McDaniel confronted him in the parking lot around 7:00 p.m. and then brandished a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Cabell then exited his vehicle with a basketball. The two men briefly exchanged words. McDaniel then fired around six shots, hitting Cabell in the chest and arms.
McDaniel fled from the scene in a vehicle. Cabell was found unresponsive by Lynchburg police and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
McDaniel was quickly identified as the shooting suspect by eyewitnesses and video surveillance provided by the Salvation Army. He was located the following day at a home on Georgia Avenue in Lynchburg and taken into custody. A 9mm handgun was also seized from the home and was later determined to be the weapon used in the shooting.
McDaniel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2024. He faces 5-40 years for murder and 3 years for the use of a firearm charge, a mandatory minimum sentence.
WFXR News will provide the latest information as it becomes available.
