Main: Barack Williams in court during his sentencing hearing (WCHS/YouTube). Inset: Caden Martin (Keller Funeral Home).
A 15-year-old in West Virginia has been sentenced to over a decade in prison for his involvement in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old tobacco store clerk during a robbery last year.
On Wednesday, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers sentenced Barack Williams to life with mercy in a state correctional facility for the murder of Caden D. Martin, according to records.
Last month, a jury found Williams guilty of murder committed during a felony, with prosecutors stating that the then-14-year-old acted as a lookout while another teen robbed the store and shot Martin. Under West Virginia law, a life sentence with mercy allows Williams to qualify for parole after serving at least 15 years. Due to his age, a life sentence without parole was not an option.
The shooter, Bre’juan Williams-Hampton, also 14 years old at the time, committed the crime on Jan. 30, 2024, at the Tobacco & Pipe in North Charleston.
Williams-Hampton admitted guilt in September 2024 to first-degree murder and received the same life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years.
Before Williams’ sentencing on Wednesday, prosecutors reminded the court of the murder’s details, including Williams entering the store during “the last moments of Mr. Martin’s life” and taking “SpongeBob popsicles.”
After the fatal shooting, Williams said he “went home and ate that ice cream,” which prosecutors said exhibited “extreme callousness” and no care for human life.
“Mr. Williams further exhibited that same callousness in the statements he made to corrections officers and bailiffs during his trial, including: ‘Caden (the victim) is a b— a— N-word,'” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Madison Tuck said, per courtroom footage posted online by Charleston ABC and Fox affiliate WCHS.
According to Tuck, additional derogatory comments made by Williams included: “Do you like Grand Theft Auto 5? I play that s— in real life,” and “Do you like SpongeBob ice cream? I know where you can get some.”
Bre’juan Williams-Hampton (Kanawha County Jail).
Williams also made comments about Martin’s parents being in court, according to Tuck.
“After the verdict, Williams said, ‘I ought to smack the smile off this n-word’s face,’ referring to the victim’s father,” Tuck told the court. “Further, the defendant stated, ‘When I get out of here, I’m going to piss on that n-word,’ referring to victim’s grave, ‘I’m going to fill it full of piss and spit on that motherf—er.'”
The prosecutors also emphasized that Williams did not show “any remorse” and “did not utter an apology” at any point during the course of the proceedings.
After several of Martin’s family members read victim impact statements and Williams told the family he was “so so sorry for what happened,” Akers unleashed a diatribe on Williams for taking the victim’s life even “after Mr. Martin gave you all everything you wanted.”
“You got convicted of it and immediately turned around and said that what you were looking forward to when you were released was desecrating the victim’s grave,” the judge said. “Those are monstrous words. It’s a monstrous mindset. And if you do not take advantage of the rehabilitation that is offered to you, you will have a long life of incarceration, I am sure of it.”
Citing Williams’ behavior throughout the legal proceedings, Akers said deciding on a sentence was not difficult.
“You make my job easy,” she told Williams. “I do not have any choice but to impose the maximum that the law allows on you sir.”
After stating that Williams would be eligible for parole after 15 years, Akers added, “I truly wish I could give you more.”
