Commonwealth v. La’Shaun Quintae Holloway; Brutal Killing of Two-Month-Old Baby Yields 30 Years in Prison

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that La’Shaun Quintae Holloway, age 27, formerly of the 1100 block of Woodcock Lane in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced on charges of Second Degree Felony Murder and Child Abuse.  Holloway was convicted of these charges after a three-day jury trial on August 26, 2024.  Circuit Court Judge Afshin Farashahi, who presided over the trial, sentenced Holloway to fifty (50) years in prison with twenty (20) years suspended, leaving thirty (30) years to serve.

This sentence exceeded the high-end of the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines, which recommended a sentence of no more than 23 years and 8 months.   In arguing for this high sentence, the Commonwealth referenced the significant injuries, age of the baby, and the brutality of the murder.  Judge Farashahi agreed that those factors warranted a sentence above the guidelines. 

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on December 20, 2019, Holloway was responsible for the care of his two-month-old baby.  On this date, while the baby was in Holloway’s sole care, family members heard him yelling obscenities at the baby over an X-box headset.  The baby then stopped crying and was found unresponsive shortly thereafter. She was taken to the hospital and put on life support but died days later. 

The injuries the baby sustained include 26 rib fractures in various stages of healing, bruising on her chest wall, a fractured clavicle, a skull fracture, bruising to her skull around her eyes, and an extensive brain bleed. Medical professionals determined the injuries were the result of abusive head trauma. 

Holloway has a prior Child Abuse and Neglect conviction from Chesapeake, stemming from an incident in which he was also convicted of felony Eluding Police, felony Hit and Run, and DUI.  He also has convictions for Carrying Concealed Weapon – 2^nd Offense, Petit Larceny, a Probation Violation, and Failure to Appear.  He has an adjudication as a juvenile for Grand Larceny.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tabitha B. Anderson and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan M. Lang prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.