After a two-day trial and just 17 minutes of jury deliberation, Shantell G. Adkins was found guilty of First-Degree Murder with a firearm and two counts of Aggravated Assault in the 2023 killing of his wife.
The verdict stems from an October 19, 2023, incident at the couple’s home in Daytona Beach. According to prosecutors, Adkins was involved in an escalating argument with his wife, who then called her parents to help calm the situation. When her parents arrived and attempted to leave with her, Adkins retrieved a rifle and shot his wife in the neck as she walked out of the home. She died at the scene.
Her father, who tried to flee, broke his leg while escaping but recovered after receiving medical treatment. Adkins also threatened both parents during the incident.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare—to lose a child,” said State Attorney R.J. Larizza. “Adkins executed our victim in front of her parents and then threatened to do the same to them.”
The case was investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak and Chief Assistant State Attorney John Reid prosecuted the case. The Honorable Kathleen McNeilly presided and is scheduled to sentence Adkins on June 23, 2025. He faces a mandatory life sentence for the First-Degree Murder conviction.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.