Four sentenced in Ta’Niyah Thomas murder
Taniyah Thomas
Malik Thomas is shown following his arrest in the shooting death of 10-year-old Ta’Niyah Thomas in Washington.
Anthian Goehring is shown after his arrest in the shooting death of 10-year-old Ta’Niyah Thomas in Washington.
Richard White is shown after his arrest in the shooting death of 10-year-old Ta’Niyah Thomas in Washington.
Douglas Cochran Jr. is shown after his arrest in the shooting death of 10-year-old Ta’Niyah Thomas in Washington.
The four men tied to the death of 10-year-old Ta’Niyah Thomas, who was killed in her home in Washington’s West End in April 2014, were sentenced Monday in Washington County Court.
Anthian Goehring, 29, Douglas Cochran Jr., 19, Malik Thomas, 21, and Richard White, 19, all of Washington, were charged in Ta’Niyah’s shooting death in a West Chestnut Street apartment building. Malik Thomas is a distant relative of the victim.
Goehring, Thomas and White pleaded guilty to a host of charges this April.
Goehring, who police allege entered the building with Cochran, both of them armed, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder (killing with malice), conspiracy and robbery inflicting serious bodily injury. He was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.
Thomas and White, who remained in a car outside the West Chestnut Street apartment, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit homicide and robbery inflicting serious bodily injury. Thomas was sentenced to 4 to 8 years in prison, and White was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in prison.
Thomas also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver 7.5 grams of heroin.
Cochran, who was scheduled for a jury trial Monday, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit third-degree murder and robbery. He was sentenced to 22 to 50 years in prison.
Visiting Senior Judge Edward Borkowski presided over the case. The courtroom was packed for Monday’s hearing.
Ta’Niyah was killed inside the 450 W. Chestnut St. home she shared with her mother, Shantye Brown, her mother’s boyfriend, Robert Lester, and a then-10-month-old infant. Brown was present for the hearing but declined to address the court or make comment.
Police determined robbery was the motive behind the shooting, and alleged that Goehring and Cochran kicked in the main door of the apartment building, approached the second-floor apartment and fired multiple shots through the door. Ta’Niyah apparently heard the gunfire and was running from her bedroom to her mother when she was hit by two bullets. The fourth-grade honor student at Washington Park Elementary School, who also was a cheerleader, was pronounced dead a short time later at Washington Hospital of a gunshot wound to the head.
Hundreds have rallied throughout the community since her death. Local groups who aim to stop violent crime have held fundraisers and benefits in her name.
Her father, Curtis W. Thomas Jr. of Washington, again voiced his displeasure with Thomas’ and White’s plea deals, stating they were too lenient. He voiced the same complaint at their plea hearing.
“These guys got a slap on the wrist,” Thomas said following Monday’s hearing. “All four knew what was taking place. They should all be held accountable.”
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said the sentences were “appropriate under the sentencing guideline and based on the facts of the case.” He hopes the family can now begin to heal.
“I hope the family can take some solace from what happened,” he said.