CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The man who walked into a Charleston convenience store back in April and shot two people has been given the maximum sentence.
A judge Thursday sentenced Antonio “Shake” Collins to 13 to 50 years in prison for two counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious wounding.
“This is the exact kind of career criminal that needs to be locked up and I’m just happy for the families that the defendant received the maximum sentence,” said Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plants.
On April 20, Collins walked into the 7-Eleven on Washington Street and bumped into Josh Lawson. When Lawson turned around to say something, Collins pulled out a gun and shot him in the head. Collins then shot Lawson’s friend Patrick Moore Jr.
Plants said this is the most random act of violence that he has ever seen.
“Typically when you are dealing with gun violence, especially when talking about a room full of drug dealers, a drug deal goes bad or a knife fight escalates into a gun fight,” he explains. “This case involves two innocent people walking into 7-Eleven and getting shot in the face.”
The entire incident was caught on video surveillance and police said following the shooting, they can see Collins picking up a bottle of water and calmly walking out of the store and smiling at the victim’s girlfriend. Collins was picked up by police soon after.
Both victims were rushed to the hospital in serious condition, but would eventually recover.
“After multiple surgeries both of them are recovering and doing fine,” said Plants.
Collins previously pleaded guilty in October to attempted murder and malicious wounding.
Plants said there was no motive in the crime.