Statesville NC man pleads guilty in fatal 2021 shooting

Tyrell Dontaye Daniels, 34, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Zion Trayshun Gaither, 20, in Iredell County Superior Court Tuesday.

Daniels was sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison.

On June 8, 2021, Gaither was in a car with two other men when a shooting occurred along Williams Road west of Statesville.

Assistant District Attorney Mikko Red Arrow said one of the occupants of the vehicle contacted Daniels to meet him. Red Arrow said the man and Daniels had a previous disagreement and the meeting was intended to dispel any negative feelings. Daniels thought the meeting was an ambush, Red Arrow said.

Daniels fled the scene and was apprehended about three months later in Georgia, according to a previous Statesville Record & Landmark article.

Red Arrow said it was difficult for the prosecution to prove who fired first. He said tests confirmed that bullets from the gun Daniels wielded killed Gaither.

Gaither was transported from the scene of the shooting to an area hospital where he died, according to previous reports.

Defense attorney Ken Darty represented Daniels. Darty said he did not believe his client was the aggressor in the shooting. Several members of Gaither’s family were present in the courtroom. A family member left the courtroom while Darty spoke.

Tywanna Stanford, Gaither’s mother, spoke at the hearing. Stanford said she wanted the maximum punishment for Daniels and didn’t care about restitution. “This won’t bring my son back,” Stanford said.

Stanford said she could not forgive Daniels for killing her son. Stanford said Daniels made a song about Gaither’s murder.

Gaither’s grandmother, Shirley Stanford, also addressed the court. “My grandson was my heart,” Gaither said as he turned to speak to Daniels. “Young man, I must forgive you because that is what God told me to do.”

Daniels was a convicted felon and was not allowed to possess a firearm at the time of the shooting.

In addition to jail time, Daniels was ordered to pay nearly $6,550 in restitution. Daniels was ordered to undergo mental health and substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.