A 30-year-old man, Ladasma Shedd, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in an armed robbery and home invasion. The charges stem from a series of robberies in Lubbock, Texas. Shedd is one of three individuals connected to the crimes. Willie Cox Jr. has already been sentenced, while Aaliyah White’s case is pending. Gabriel Monte reported
In a recent court hearing, a 30-year-old man named Ladasma Shedd was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in an armed robbery and home invasion that occurred two years ago. Shedd has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since September 9, 2021. He appeared in the 364th District Court and pleaded guilty to charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit robbery and aggravated robbery. According to the law, both of these charges carry a punishment of five years to life in prison.
However, Shedd reached a plea deal with the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, accepting an 18-year prison sentence for the burglary charge and a 10-year sentence for the aggravated robbery charge. These sentences will run concurrently.
Shedd is one of three individuals connected to a series of robberies that occurred within days of each other. Another individual, Willie Cox Jr., who is 20 years old, was sentenced in October 2022 to 20 years in prison for aggravated robbery and 10 years in prison for an unrelated aggravated assault charge. Aaliyah White, who is currently out on bond, is also facing charges of aggravated robbery, and her case is still pending.
The charges against Shedd, Cox, and White stem from an extensive investigation conducted by the Lubbock police and Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was initiated in response to four separate robberies that took place within a day of each other, starting on August 29, 2021.
The first robbery occurred at a residence in the 1600 block of 59th Street. A mother of two children reported that two men forcefully entered her home and threatened them with a pistol. The intruders were allegedly looking for her boyfriend, but when she informed them that he no longer lived there, they demanded anything of value. When she stated that she had nothing, one of the intruders went downstairs where her children were and threatened to shoot one of them. Thankfully, the woman convinced the intruders that she had nothing valuable, and they eventually left.
The following day, an armed robbery took place at the Ace Cash Express in the 4600 block of 34th Street. An employee recalled that an armed robber entered the establishment and demanded money. The employee managed to hide under the counter and pressed the silent panic button twice. While hiding, the employee overheard one of the robbers asking if the panic button had been activated. A gunshot was fired, and the robbers attempted to breach a secure door. The employee crawled towards the back of the store and witnessed the robbers fleeing the scene.
Later that day, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery with shots fired at the Prize City game room in the 6300 block of East Highway 84. Witnesses informed the deputies that three individuals had entered the game room, fired a shot, and demanded money from the manager. The robbers subsequently fled the scene in an older black model Mercury Grand Marquis.
At approximately 10 p.m. on the same day, the Lubbock police were called to an armed robbery at the Burger King located in the 7000 block of University Avenue. An employee on a smoke break was approached by a man armed with a pistol, who stated that he was being robbed. The armed robber then led the employee back into the store, where they encountered another employee. The robber ordered them to lead him to the safe, but when they claimed they didn’t know the combination, the robber demanded money from the cash drawer. Only the drive-through cash drawer contained any cash, so the robber took the money from there.
During the investigation, security camera footage from each of the robbery scenes revealed that the same individuals were involved in all of the incidents. Detectives discovered video footage from nearby businesses near the Ace Cash Express that captured a 2002 Grand Marquis parked near a car wash. The footage showed two men exiting the vehicle and heading towards the cash express store around the time of the robbery. These men were wearing the same clothing as the individuals involved in the Burger King and game room robberies.
In addition to the video evidence, investigators received vital information leading to the identification of the suspects. One patrol officer recognized Willie Cox Jr. from a traffic stop that took place on August 25, 2021, just a few days before the robberies occurred. Cox’s thumbprint on the traffic ticket matched his prints in the police database. Furthermore, a fingerprint found at the game room robbery scene was also a match to Cox.
Anonymous tips led investigators to believe that Ladasma Shedd was the other individual involved in the robberies. Shedd was identified by the victim of the home invasion through a photo lineup. Comparisons of Shedd’s prior booking photos with the security camera videos further supported their belief that he was one of the robbers.
On September 8, 2021, Shedd and White were apprehended at an apartment complex on Slide Road, where White was a tenant. Cox was arrested the following day and was found in possession of a .45 caliber handgun, which he admitted to using in the Burger King robbery. Cox also confessed to purchasing the gun from Shedd.
During the search of White’s apartment, investigators discovered evidence such as 9 mm rounds, a magazine for a Glock pistol, and black sweatpants with white piping that matched the clothing worn by the robbers.
As a result of the extensive investigation and the evidence gathered, Ladasma Shedd received an 18-year prison sentence for burglary and a 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery. Both sentences will run concurrently. The sentences handed down to Shedd and Cox serve as a significant step towards bringing justice to the victims and preventing further criminal activity in the community. Aaliyah White’s case is still pending, and further legal proceedings will determine her fate..