A Washington state man will spend nearly 61 years in prison for orchestrating the 2023 murder of 16-year-old Larry “Trae” Marshall III, after a robbery Martin believed Trae’s friends committed. The man, Isiah Davon Martin, 31, was sentenced on Friday, having been convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and second-degree murder, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.
Details of the Murder and Motivation
The tragic events leading to Trae Marshall’s death began on March 25, 2023, when Martin was allegedly robbed at a local mall. Despite Trae’s lack of involvement, Martin believed he was connected to the crime through his association with the real perpetrators. In response, Martin recruited Davonte J. Pool (17) and Vincent L. Bradley III (16) to seek revenge.
In the days leading up to the shooting, Martin, Pool, and Bradley went to the Lakeside Landing Apartments in Tacoma to find a suitable target. On March 29, 2023, as Trae was walking to visit friends at the complex, the group spotted him. Martin did a U-turn, parked his car, and instructed Pool and Bradley to exit the vehicle and start shooting. The two suspects fired a total of 33 rounds at Trae before returning to Martin’s car and fleeing the scene. Trae Marshall, a teenager with no direct connection to the robbery, was tragically killed.
Prosecutors’ Statement
Prosecutors emphasized that Trae was innocent and that his only “crime” was being friends with the people who had robbed Martin. Additionally, prosecutors stated that Martin had been humiliated online by Trae’s social circle, which played a significant role in motivating Martin to orchestrate the deadly ambush.
The prosecution’s statement underscored the senselessness of the murder, noting, “The three killed Trae, a 16-year-old boy, who appears to have had nothing to do with Defendant’s robbery.”
Martin’s Defense and Sentencing
During the trial, Martin, who had been paralyzed in a shooting about a decade ago, claimed that Pool and Bradley acted on their own, making a split-second decision to commit the murder. However, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen disagreed, highlighting Martin’s role as the adult in the vehicle and his failure to provide guidance for the teens involved.
Judge Sorensen said, “This community needs adults that will help kids see right from wrong… This is the worst kind of betrayal to this community that we could have.”
Prosecutor Brad Hashimoto further stressed that Martin, the only adult, was the one with the motive and had led the teenagers to commit the terrible act.
Sentences for the Other Defendants
Pool and Bradley were previously convicted for their roles in the murder. Both were sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime.
Tributes to Trae
Family and friends of Trae Marshall have paid tribute to him on social media, describing him as smart, funny, charismatic, and an amazing athlete. A GoFundMe page set up by the family honors his life, stating, “Trae was so much more than words could describe.”
