DOTHAN, Ala. — A Georgia woman accused of fatally shooting a Dothan man while he was sleeping took a plea deal on Thursday, reducing her charge from capital murder to felony murder.
Zycheria Russ, 22, agreed to plead guilty to the reduced charge in the 2021 killing of 19-year-old Sincere Tyson. In addition to the felony murder charge, Russ also pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card. As part of the plea deal, she will testify against the two other defendants in the case, Jacoiah Harrell and Solomon Cooper, both of whom are facing serious charges in Tyson’s death.
Russ has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the crime. The sentence, however, has not brought comfort to Tyson’s grieving family. His mother, Lerwanna Mcclinden, expressed her frustration with the outcome, stating, “20 years ain’t enough time for me but you know I’m held at the mercy of others, but at least she gets to pay for what she did.” She continued, “She can’t be out here helping kill somebody else’s child. Unfortunately, my child had to be the sacrificial lamb.”
Tyson was shot and killed while he was asleep in his home at the Abbey Oaks apartments in Dothan in December 2021. His mother, still reeling from the loss, emphasized her son’s worth, saying, “My son’s life mattered. It may not have mattered to them, but it damn sure did to me. He had a bright light, and they dimmed it.”
Russ was initially arrested in December 2021 by federal agents in Bainbridge, Georgia, after being named as the second suspect in Tyson’s murder. In March 2023, she was denied youthful offender status, which would have sealed her case from the public.
The other two suspects, Harrell and Cooper, are also facing charges related to Tyson’s death. Harrell is charged with capital murder and burglary, while Cooper faces charges of capital murder. The Houston County District Attorney’s Office has indicated that they are seeking the death penalty for Harrell if he is convicted.
Russ’s guilty plea and sentencing mark a significant moment in the case, but the legal process continues as Harrell and Cooper’s trials loom. The Tyson family’s pursuit of justice remains ongoing, with hopes that those responsible for Sincere Tyson’s death will be held fully accountable.
