One of the seven people charged with murder in the 2023 ambush killing of a pregnant Lakewood woman was acquitted of all charges, while a second was sentenced to 48 years in prison as part of a plea deal, court records show.
Melanie Massay, 22, was ambushed and shot to death by a group of people near the 1300 block of Zephyr Street on Feb. 28, 2023. Her unborn child also died, and a second person was also shot but survived, according to Lakewood police.
Officers arrested seven people on suspicion of first-degree murder in Massay’s death.
Monte Hayes, 25; ReaAsia Hollins, 21; DaJanah Abrams, 26; Jrayla Taylor, 24; and Trinity Walker, 20 were arrested for the shootings in January 2024.
A sixth suspect — Jaliyah Burks, 21 — surrendered to police in March 2024. The seventh and final suspect — Isaac Pierrie, 25 — was arrested in Aurora in March.
So far, one person has been acquitted after a jury trial and one was sentenced to prison, while the remaining five are awaiting sentencing hearings or have a pending case.
- Hayes was found not guilty on all charges — first-degree murder, attempted murder and assault — by a Jefferson County jury on July 21
- Hollins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February and was sentenced to 48 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections in May
- Burks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on June 12. Her sentencing is set for Oct. 1.
- Abrams pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in October. A date for her sentencing hearing was not available.
- Taylor pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and tampering with physical evidence. A date for her sentencing hearing was not available.
- Pierre has an arraignment hearing set for Oct. 3 and is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and assault
