Winston-Salem man pleads guilty in New Year’s Day shooting death of 25-year-old woman

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — A Winston-Salem man has been found guilty of manslaughter in the New Year’s Day 2023 shooting death of a 25-year-woman he was dating at the time, according to the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office.

Background

At around 6:18 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023, officers came to the Microtel Inn on 100 Capitol Lodging Court after getting a report about an unconscious woman.

At the scene, police found Dasia Jenis Gentry, 25, of Winston-Salem, in a room suffering from a gunshot wound.

First responders applied life-saving measures but Gentry would ultimately be pronounced dead at the scene by EMS personnel.

Investigators say that Rick Monroe Jr, of Winston-Salem, was in a “domestic relationship” with Gentry at the time of the shooting.

According to police, Monroe became impaired during New Year’s Day festivities at the hotel and was recklessly handling a handgun when it fired and fatally struck Gentry. Monroe left the scene that night but ultimately turned himself in.

He was charged with voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was placed in the Forsyth County Detention Center under a $1 million bond. He has remained in custody since Jan. 2023.

Gentry’s death was the first homicide of 2023 in Winston-Salem.

Sentencing

On Tuesday, Monroe pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He would ultimately be sentenced to 75-102 months —6 to 8 years— in prison.

The DA’s office says there is no evidence that Monroe “acted with premeditation or malice” in Gentry’s death.

Monroe was a record level III for felony sentencing purposes.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill expressed condolences to the Gentry family and emphasized the importance of “legal and responsible gun ownership.”

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