A Virginia father has been sentenced to three decades behind bars for murdering his two-month-old daughter after family members heard him yelling obscenities at the crying baby over his Xbox headset.
La’Shaun Quintae Holloway, 27, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced on Monday to 50 years in prison with 20 years suspended, meaning he will serve 30 years before being eligible for release.
The infant was found unresponsive on 20 December 2019, shortly after Holloway’s angry outburst whilst he was playing video games. She was rushed to hospital and placed on life support but died several days later.
Medical examinations revealed the baby girl had sustained catastrophic injuries including 26 rib fractures in various stages of healing, extensive bruising on her chest wall, a fractured clavicle, a skull fracture, bruising around her eyes, and an extensive brain bleed.
Medical professionals determined the injuries were the result of abusive head trauma, indicating a pattern of ongoing abuse against the vulnerable infant.
Holloway was the only person caring for his daughter on the day she became unresponsive at his home in the 1100 block of Woodcock Lane in Virginia Beach.
According to prosecutors, family members heard Holloway over his Xbox headset yelling obscenities at the crying baby. The infant subsequently stopped crying and was later discovered unresponsive.
A jury convicted Holloway of second-degree murder and child abuse following a three-day trial in August 2024. Circuit Court Judge Afshin Farashahi handed down the sentence on Monday, exceeding the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines’ recommended maximum of 23 years and eight months.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tabitha Anderson and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Lang argued forcefully for a sentence above the guidelines, citing the brutality of the infant’s death, her extremely young age, and Holloway’s extensive criminal history.
“In arguing for this high sentence, the Commonwealth referenced the significant injuries, age of the baby, and the brutality of the murder,” a statement from the prosecutors explained. “Judge Farashahi agreed that those factors warranted a sentence above the guidelines.”
The case has shocked the Virginia Beach community, highlighting the devastating consequences when vulnerable infants are left in the care of individuals with violent tendencies.
Holloway had an extensive criminal record prior to his daughter’s death, raising questions about how he came to be entrusted with the care of such a young baby.
He had a previous conviction for child abuse and neglect in nearby Chesapeake, as well as convictions for felony eluding police, felony hit-and-run, and driving under the influence.
His criminal history also included convictions for carrying a concealed weapon on a second offence, petit larceny, probation violation, and failure to appear in court. Additionally, he had a juvenile adjudication for grand larceny.
A grand jury indicted Holloway on the second-degree murder and child abuse charges in October 2021. At that time, he was already incarcerated in Chesapeake on unrelated child abuse and neglect charges.
The identity of Holloway’s daughter was not released by officials, in accordance with policies protecting juvenile victims in sensitive cases.
The case underscores the dangers of leaving young children in the care of individuals with documented histories of violence and child abuse. The infant’s injuries, which were in various stages of healing, indicated she had been subjected to repeated abuse over a period of time before her death.
The 26 rib fractures in different stages of healing demonstrated a pattern of ongoing physical violence against the defenceless baby, with medical experts able to determine the injuries occurred at multiple points in time.
The skull fracture, bruising around the eyes, and extensive brain bleed that ultimately caused her death were consistent with severe abusive head trauma, often referred to as “shaken baby syndrome” or inflicted traumatic brain injury.
Such injuries typically occur when an infant is violently shaken or their head is struck against a surface, causing the brain to move within the skull and resulting in bleeding, swelling, and potentially fatal damage.
The Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney’s Office emphasised the severity of the crimes in its press release announcing the sentencing, describing it as a “brutal killing” of a two-month-old baby.
The case highlights growing concerns about the dangers of leaving infants with caregivers who may become frustrated or angry when babies cry, a natural behaviour that all healthy infants engage in regularly.
Child welfare advocates stress that parents and caregivers must never shake babies or inflict violence upon them, regardless of frustration levels. Crying babies should be placed safely in their cribs if a caregiver feels overwhelmed, with experts recommending stepping away until calm before returning.
The fact that family members overheard Holloway’s verbal abuse through the Xbox gaming system underscores how the incident unfolded in real-time, with relatives presumably unable to intervene quickly enough to prevent the fatal assault.
The sentencing sends a strong message that Virginia courts will not tolerate violence against the most vulnerable members of society, with Judge Farashahi demonstrating willingness to exceed sentencing guidelines when circumstances warrant harsher punishment.
Holloway will serve his 30-year sentence in the Virginia Department of Corrections. Given the nature of his crimes, he is likely to face significant challenges within the prison system, as inmates convicted of crimes against children are typically viewed with particular hostility by fellow prisoners.
The case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of proper screening and oversight when determining who should be entrusted with the care of young children, particularly when individuals have demonstrated patterns of violence and criminal behaviour.
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