By Nancy Drury Duncan —
A Belle Haven man charged with first-degree murder in connection with a drug deal has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in Accomack Circuit Court. Nyxavier Riekiem Snead, 20, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder of Alvin Lee “Derek” Rogers Jr.
Snead pleaded guilty also to attempted robbery and use of a firearm in the murder. He was 17 at the time of the incident.
A felony firearms charge was not prosecuted in accordance with the agreement. The agreement recommends a total of 11 years of active prison time with more time suspended.
Last month, co-defendant Bronta Ames, 26, of Melfa, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder also in a plea agreement.
Judge W. Revell Lewis III said he would delay accepting that agreement until seeing the results of a presentence investigation report. Ames is set to be sentenced in November. If accepted, the agreement recommends a total of 28 years in prison.
On May 29, 2019, police were called to a Boggs Road address in the Painter area for a report of gunshots. The police found Rogers in his van dead with gunshot wounds in his neck and torso.
Accomack Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan told the court that Rogers was called to that address to make a marijuana sale. Rogers was shot by Ames, who was in front of the vehicle and fired through the windshield as he backed out of a driveway.
Morgan said he believed Snead also had a gun and was standing beside the driver’s side door.
A suspect from the beginning, Snead denied any involvement when first questioned about the crime. His co-defendants implicated him and he finally admitted to his participation in the crime. He is set to be sentenced in December.
