Release Date: Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:45 p.m.
Harvey L. Bryant, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Shakim Manifest Allah, 29 years old, previously residing in the 4700 block of Windermere Court in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was found guilty by a jury on two (2) counts of Robbery and one (1) count of Wearing a Mask in Public. The Honorable H. Thomas Padrick presided over the trial. The jury recommended a sentence of fifteen (15) years in the Virginia Department of Corrections. A formal sentencing hearing will take place on June 15, 2009.
The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on May 31, 2008, after working the closing shift at Radio Shack at Haygood Shopping Center in Virginia Beach, two Radio Shack employees were walking to their vehicles when they were approached by a masked individual, later identified as Allah. Allah pointed what was believed to be a firearm at the victims, demanded the Radio Shack nightly deposit be handed over, and ordered one employee to give up her cell phone. The defendant fled the parking lot with the stolen items, and continued on foot until he was apprehended by a law enforcement officer responding to a “be on the lookout” report based upon the victims’ 911 call. Upon searching Allah’s belongings, officers found a fake firearm that had been used in the robbery, as well as the exact amount of money that had been stolen from the victims. The mask used in the robbery was later recovered in a nearby dumpster and was found to contain Allah’s DNA.
Allah has prior felony convictions, including Grand Larceny, Receiving Stolen Property, and Automobile Theft.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott M. Lang and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert W. Jones prosecuted the case. Please call Amanda Herman if additional information is desired.
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