DALLAS, Texas — A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of murder in a 2023 drive-by shooting that killed a 20-year-old man in Southeast Dallas.
Sheldon Maurice-Earl Wilhite was convicted on February 24, 2026, in the death of Terry Terrell Williams Jr.
Prosecutors said Wilhite, who was 20 at the time of the offense, and co-defendant Ja'Qualyn Ladawn Littles, who was 17, carried out a drive-by shooting that killed a victim they did not know. After their arrest, both defendants blamed each other for the shooting.
The suspects were not apprehended until a month after the killing. During that time, authorities said they committed a felony evading offense, which was later presented during the punishment phase of the trial.
The week-long trial included testimony from more than 20 witnesses and five expert witnesses, including specialists in DNA, firearms, and FBI phone mapping. The proceedings also involved co-defendant testimony and a writ of attachment issued for a witness. Prosecutors said an inmate came forward two weeks before trial, claiming the co-defendant had confessed.
During the sentencing phase, the victim’s sister testified about the impact of the loss, including the family’s history after their mother was murdered when they were children.
The case was prosecuted by Hallie Warnock, with Taylor Willis serving as second chair. The prosecution team included investigators Alex Lipsey and Martin Bosse, appellate support from Paul Pinon, and paralegal LaTonya Peoples.
The other defendant, Littles, agreed to a plea of guilty and was sentenced on March 18, 2026, to 15 years in prison.
