Daymein Hedrick, 19, of Hematite has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after admitting to shooting two people in 2020 at a creek near the intersection of Rice Street and Sunnyside Road in Hematite, court records show.
On Oct. 26, Jefferson County Div. 12 Associate Circuit Judge Antonio "Tony" Manansala sentenced Hedrick to 25 years each for two counts of first-degree assault and 10 years each for two counts of armed criminal action. The two 25-year terms will be served concurrently, or at the same time, with each other, and the 10-year terms will be served concurrently. However, the sentences for assault and armed criminal action will be served consecutively, for a total of 35 years in prison, according to court records.
Hedrick had pleaded guilty to the four charges on Aug. 22, court documents show.
According to the probable-cause statement in the case, in May 2020, a man and woman were leaving after fishing in the creek and discovered a window broken on their vehicle and a purse missing from it. Hedrick was riding a four-wheeler in the area, and the two asked him about the theft.
Hedrick drove away but returned a short time later with the purse and gave it back to the man and woman. He then pulled a gun from his waistband and told the two “to be careful in the area” before shooting at them several times. The man was shot in the back, and the woman was shot in the leg and the cheek, the report said.
The two were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the report.
The woman said Hedrick searched her pockets after shooting her but did not take anything, according to the report.
Investigators found 9mm shell casings where the shooting took place, and when they searched Hedrick’s home, they found a gun that was loaded with 9mm ammunition in the home. The male victim identified Hedrick in a photo lineup, the report aid.
In addition, investigators viewed surveillance video from the day of the shooting that showed Hedrick riding the four-wheeler and wearing a jacket that matched descriptions the victims gave. The investigators also found the four-wheeler at Hedrick’s home, according to the report.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Courtney Goodwin handled the case.