Testimony: Hanover teen shot during drug robbery | News

HANOVER, VA (WWBT) -- Three teens made a plan to steal drugs and in the end an Atlee High School student was shot and killed.

That's what came out during testimony today in a Hanover courtroom where the victim's relatives are seeking justice for 16-year-old Brett Wells.

An investigator testified an 18-year-old admitted to shooting Wells the night he and two others went to Wells' house to steal marijuana from the 16-year-old.

Another difficult day for Shannon and Darrell Wells.

Their son, Brett, was shot and killed inside their house on Verdi Lane in January.

"It was planned... it was planned," said Shannon Wells.

An investigator testified Kevin Drayton set up the deal that the plan was to flash $300, grab the pot from Wells, and run — that they never intended to pay Wells for four ounces of marijuana.

The investigators said before the robbery, the three 18-year-old suspects bought a gun at Richmond's Fairfield Court.

An investigator testified each of the three suspects put in $100 each because Drayton wanted a gun for protection and brought it along that night in case Wells had one too.

According to witness testimony: Drayton stayed in the car, while Da'von Byars and Xavia Highsmith went inside Wells' home.

The investigator told the judge Highsmith confessed to shooting Wells during a scuffle.

Wells' friend Aaron Evans testified he heard a struggle while out on the front porch and when he forced himself through the door Wells told him "get these guys."

Evans testified he tried to stop both Byars and Highsmith, but when he caught up with Highsmith he heard a pop.

Evans had been shot in the hand.

The Wells' said regardless of what their son was doing, he didn't deserve to die and want the trio to pay.

"Punishment, jail time, life, life in prison so they can't hurt anybody else's children," said Shannon and Darrell Wells.  

First degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding and gun charges were all certified to a grand jury which meets next month.

Wells was a sophomore at Atlee High School.

Copyright 2012 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.