A driver responsible for killing two teenagers, including a Korean-American high school student, in a high-speed crash has been sentenced to only four years in prison, sparking outrage from the victims’ families.
Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows sentenced the defendant, Usman Shahid, who was 18 at the time of the incident, to four years in prison and an additional three years of probation.
The sentence, handed down as two years for each count of involuntary manslaughter, followed the recommendation made by a jury in April.
The crash occurred on June 7, 2022, when Shahid, who held only a learner’s permit at the time, was driving a white BMW with three passengers. He was speeding at 81 mph in a 35 mph zone near the intersection of Braddock Road and Five Oaks Road.
Shahid’s car collided with a turning Toyota 4Runner and then careened onto the sidewalk, where it struck and killed 15-year-old Korean American Leeyan Hanjia Yan and her friend, 14-year-old Ada Gabriela Martinez Nolasco. Both girls were students at Oakton High School.
Yan’s mother, Youngjin Lee, attended the sentencing and tearfully expressed her grief over the lenient sentence. Yan, who was killed in the crash, was her parents’ only child.
“The 15 years I spent with my daughter were the happiest and brightest of my life,” Lee said. “My daughter was a source of pride and a beloved treasure. Even though two years have passed, every night as I lie in bed, tears stream down my face. I still dream of the horrific scenes, and when I wake up, the pain in my heart is unbearable.”
She criticized the jury’s recommendation, saying, “This jury’s verdict feels like a slap in the face. Two years per one life lost. How light is the value of a human life? Where is the dignity for my daughter and her friend?”
The court explained that Virginia law prevents judges from imposing a longer sentence than what the jury recommends.
Though Shahid apologized to the victims’ families, many found his apology lacking in sincerity. His defense attorney argued that the incident was not the result of alcohol, drugs, or malicious intent but rather a case of extremely poor judgment while driving.
The attorney explained that Shahid was merely trying to speed through a yellow light before it turned red, which resulted in the deadly crash.
The families of the victims continue to grieve the loss of their daughters, while many are left questioning the adequacy of the justice served in this tragic case.
BY OKCHAE KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
