A man, Lenard White, has been found guilty of murder after orchestrating the killing of a 17-year-old girl who had reported him to the police for sexual assault. Isabella Scavelli and her mother, La Shawn Pope, reported White to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for sexually assaulting Isabella. The day after the report, Isabella was shot dead at her home by a gunman identified as Sheldon Robinson, who was later revealed to be White’s cousin.
Following a federal jury trial in the Middle District of Florida, White was convicted of various charges, including murder, murder for hire, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Isabella, a high school junior involved in programs like the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), was fatally shot in the back while trying to flee for help upon seeing Robinson at her door. La Shawn, Isabella’s mother, sustained multiple injuries during the attack and witnessed her daughter’s death.
Prosecutors expressed concerns about La Shawn’s survival and she was airlifted to a hospital in Tampa for treatment. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), swiftly identified Robinson and White as suspects in the case. The murder weapon was later recovered from Robinson’s backyard, where he had buried it.
Both White and Robinson were convicted of multiple charges and are facing potential life sentences. Their sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2026.
