ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — A woman has been sentenced to over 20 years in prison for the 2022 murder of Mahdi Holland.
According to the City of Roanoke Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Armonie Alize Gunn pleaded no contest to Second Degree Murder and Use of a firearm in the Commission of Murder. As a result, she was sentenced to 43 years in prison, suspended after serving 23 years.
The investigation began on Aug. 20, 2022, when Holland arrived at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital in a Mercedes with several gunshot wounds. The driver told staff that Holland was badly injured and fled the scene shortly after. Holland was rushed into emergency surgery but passed away from his injuries.
After a months-long homicide investigation, detectives revealed that the shooting occurred inside the Mercedes as it drove around the City of Roanoke, near the 3200 block of Melrose Avenue. The car was later found at the Lansdowne Apartments on Delta Drive with bullet holes and a significant amount of blood.
According to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the driver of the Mercedes and a separate backseat passenger were identified. Both people describe Gunn as the person who shot and killed Holland in the back seat of the car.
On Jan. 3, 2023, indictments were presented to a Roanoke City Grand Jury and Gunn was arrested.
Although the victim’s family is incredibly distraught by the loss of their loved one, they were ultimately supportive of the resolution of the case. All parties recognized that the cooperation of the witnesses inside the car could potentially present a challenge in the prosecution of this case,”
– said Attorney Donald Caldwell in a release.
