Man convicted of murder in Lebanon, Va. Walmart parking lot shooting

RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A jury found a man guilty of second-degree murder after a shooting in the parking lot of the Lebanon, Virginia, Walmart in March 2024.

According to the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney for Russell County Zack A. Stoots, the two-day trial concluded on Thursday.

A jury returned the following guilty verdicts against Dennis Dee Gilbert of Cleveland, Virginia:

• Second-degree murder
• Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony
• Shooting in a public place resulting in bodily harm

Gilbert was arrested after a shooting in the parking lot of the Lebanon Walmart on March 5, 2024.

The shooting resulted in the death of Zachary Cody Boyd.

A release from Stoots’ office states that evidence in the trial showed Gilbert confronted Boyd in the parking lot, left, and came back. An argument followed, Boyd pushed Gilbert, and Gilbert shot Boyd, the news release states.

“The conviction in this case was obtained due to the hard work of multiple law enforcement agencies in Rusell County and citizens who testified about what they witnessed,” Stoots stated in the release. “Our office hopes this conviction will allow the healing process to begin for the family of Zachary Cody Boyd.”

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department and Virginia State Police investigated the case.

Gilbert is set to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025.

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