Shannon Weaver Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Deadly Shooting and Receives Maximum Prison Sentence

Posted on 8/23/2022

Defendant: Shannon Weaver

Shannon Weaver, 23, of Columbus, was sentenced today to a maximum 14 to 19½ years in prison for the 2020 killing of Aljuanta Counts. Weaver on Monday pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm specification. Franklin County Assistant Prosecutors Daniel Cable and Thomas Stoltman handled the case.

Counts, 24, was shot twice shortly after midnight on July 8, 2020, in the area of Ruhl Avenue and Virginialee Road. Counts and Weaver, who were co-workers at DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, had gotten in a dispute. In court Monday, Weaver claimed he felt threatened by Counts during the brief altercation. Counts was able to tell responding Columbus police officers the identity of his assailant before dying from his wounds. No firearm was found near Counts.

Several family members of Counts spoke in open court Monday, pleading Judge Richard Frye to impose the maximum sentence. After hearing arguments, Judge Frye imposed the maximum sentence. At the request of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stoltman, Judge Frye ordered the confiscation and destruction of Weaver’s firearm.