Man sentenced to at least 9 years in prison for 2023 ‘drive-by’ shooting in Fairmont

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) — A man who was charged with attempted first-degree murder in April 2023 was sentenced on Tuesday in Marion County court.

During a hearing, Judge Patrick Wilson sentenced Kenyatta Ephraim, 30, to no less than three and no more than 15 years in state prison for the charge of attempted first-degree murder as well as six additional years for the charge of presentation of a firearm in the commission of a felony. These two sentences will be served back to back.

Ephraim’s sentencing stems from a “drive-by style shooting” incident on Maple Avenue in Fairmont on April 27, 2023, where he used a “small caliber firearm” to shoot at a victim, hitting their vehicle three times. One round also ricocheted off of a vehicle and into the home of two children and two adults. Ephraim pleaded “no contest” to the charges in July.

During the hearing, Ephraim’s legal representation argued for a lighter sentence, arguing that Ephraim has been incarcerated for much of his life and hasn’t had a chance to be rehabilitated.

The father of the attempted murder victim also testified during the hearing about how his son and other family members were endangered by Ephraim’s actions, saying that several spent rounds were recovered from inside his mother’s home.

Ultimately, the sentencing that Ephraim received was the maximum allowed under his plea agreement with the state.

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