Commonwealth v. Darrius Cornell White; Life without Parole plus 2 Life Terms and 13 Years for Killing of Woman at Gas Station

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Darrius Cornell White, 25 years old, formerly of the 3000 block of Welcome Road in Chesapeake, Virginia, was sentenced for charges of Aggravated Murder, Robbery Causing Death (2 counts), and Use of Firearm (3 counts). Circuit Court Judge James C. Lewis, who presided over the two-day jury trial, sentenced White to three (3) terms of life in prison (one being without the possibility of parole) plus thirteen (13) years.  When pronouncing his sentence, Judge Lewis told White, “Your DNA has an evil streak that can’t be rehabilitated, changed, or eliminated.”

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on December 13, 2021, Annie Smith and her husband, Steven, visited family, ran errands, and stopped for gas near their home at the Harris Teeter in Haygood Shopping Center. As Mr. Smith pumped gas, brothers Michael and Darrius White, driving a stolen vehicle, drove up to the gas pump adjacent to the Smiths. Michael White, whose face was covered with a bandana, jumped out of the vehicle and robbed Mr. Smith at gunpoint. Michael White returned to his vehicle and then again approached Mr. Smith and demanded property. Mr. Smith told Michael White that he had given them everything he had. Michael White then returned to the vehicle. Darrius White took the gun, exited the driver’s seat, and approached Mr. Smith demanding property a third time. Darrius White forced Mr. Smith out of the vehicle and demanded property from Annie Smith.  He then shot her three times in the chest. The White brothers fled the scene, stealing a firearm that Annie Smith legally owned and had concealed in her vehicle. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The White brothers fled to Chesapeake in the vehicle they had stolen earlier that day. Police had a description of the suspects and the vehicle used in the murder. Shortly after the murder, the vehicle’s owner spotted them driving his stolen car. The White brothers left the car and police arrived to process the stolen vehicle for evidence. Both of their fingerprints were all over the vehicle. Around midnight on December 15, 2021, the White brothers showed up at Chesapeake General Hospital claiming to be suicidal. In an interview with Virginia Beach police, they both confessed to their involvement in the murder and robbery of Annie Smith.

Michael White pled guilty to charges of First Degree Murder, Robbery Causing Death (2 counts), Use of a Firearm (3 counts), and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon and was sentenced to fifty (50) years in prison.

Darrius White has an extensive criminal record beginning in 2013, to include convictions for charges of Assault by Mob, Assault and Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer, multiple Obscene Display and Indecent Exposure charges, and probation violations.   

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Janeé D. Joslin and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brandon C. Emery prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.