MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A new trial to determine the mercy phase for convicted murderer Shaundarious Reeder is scheduled for the week of February 13, 2024.
Reeder and Terrell Linear were convicted of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting death of WVU student Eric Smith at the College Park Apartment complex.
The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the question of mercy for Reeder, and the question was submitted to the West Virginia State Supreme Court, which ordered a new jury be empaneled to hear the mercy or no mercy question.
In February of 2020, Linear and Reeder were riding back to the College Park Apartments when an argument erupted. When the car arrived at the apartment, a fight ensued in the parking lot before Smith escaped inside.
Linear and Reeder each grabbed guns from the car and went inside to find Smith. Reports indicate Linear beat on several doors so residents could witness them kill Smith. When Smith opened the door, he was hit by seven bullets fired by Linear and Reeder.
During testimony, the forensic expert said two bullets fired from the gun linked to Linear and three bullets linked to the pistol Reeder was carrying on the night of the killing hit Smith.
Linear was convicted of first degree murder and given mercy, he is being held in Mount Olive Correctional Complex.