ORANGE COUNTY, FL – The Office of the State Attorney of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida announces that Willie Shade has been found guilty of First Degree Murder in the shooting death of Zedekiah Lafayette in January 2023.

On January 20, Lafayette, 26, was found lying on the ground at the Maxwell Terrace Apartments on West Colonial Drive. The Orlando Police Department identified Willie Shade, 35, as a suspect, and arrested him.

Throughout the trial, multiple witnesses provided crucial testimony, recounting their observations on the day of the shooting. This included an individual who responded to the location after hearing gunshots and a neighbor scream. Upon seeing the witness, Shade also fired at them. A second witness testified to seeing Shade in the company of the victim and another person and later discovering the victim on the ground. Additionally, surveillance footage captured Shade at the scene and later running away from the scene.

Following a three-day trial, the jury rendered a verdict on Wednesday afternoon. Shade was found guilty as charged for First Degree Murder with a Firearm and Attempted First Degree Murder with a Firearm. He was sentenced to a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Shade qualified as a prison release reoffender and previously served 10 years in prison for Attempted Second Degree Murder, a charge he was still on probation for when he committed the crimes in this case.