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Tai’Juan Williams will spend the next several decades behind bars. The 22-year-old Prospect resident pleaded guilty on April 25 to charges of first degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Both charges stem from the October 2022 murder of Dennis Dubose. In addition, Williams pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of malicious wounding, stemming from a fight he got involved in while incarcerated. 

The murder took place on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Farmville officers were called to the 800 block of Early Street at 7:25 p.m., after reports came in of shots being fired inside a residence. 

When they went inside, officers found a male victim who had been shot multiple times. That victim, 25-year-old Dennis D. Dubose of Farmville, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to information from Farmville Police Chief Andy Ellington, officers remained on scene throughout the night. They processed the scene for evidence and interviewed witnesses. It was at this point Williams was first identified as a suspect in the case. He was arrested one day later in Buckingham County. 

Maximum sentence for Prospect man

Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan L. Clark said Williams will serve 40 years in prison as a result of the guilty plea. 

“The sentencing guidelines recommended a punishment range of (between) 32 years and four months to 40 years and five months,” Clark said in a statement. 

She added that Williams was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation once he serves that 40-year sentence. Once released, he will also face a 58-year suspended sentence and 80-year requirement of good behavior. 

Clark also thanked all of those who worked on the case, including the Farmville Police Department and Prince Edward County’s Victim/Witness Coordinator Cindy Sams, for their hard work. 

“We also continue to extend thoughts of peace and comfort to the family of the late Dennis Dubose,” she added.