DETROIT (WWJ) – A year and a half after killing a Detroit liquor store clerk, Dvante Howard has been sentenced to life without parole.
Howard, 24, was found guilty last month of killing 64-year-old Benham Rasho at Andy’s Market on Couzens near 8 Mile on Jan. 17, 2022.
On Monday he was sentenced for the killing, which authorities said was a robbery gone wrong.
Detroit police were called to the party store around 9:15 p.m. the night of the shooting. When officers showed up they found Rasho inside with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said at the time Howard pointed the gun at another employee inside the store and ran off with two drawers from the cash register.
He was arrested a week after the shooting and arraigned three days later on one count of felony murder, two counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted murder and four counts of felony firearm. On July 24 a jury found him guilty of murder, armed robbery and three of four counts of felony firearm.
Judge Kevin Cox sentenced him to life without parole for the murder and 25-50 years for the armed robbery, to be served consecutively.
In a separate case, Howard is also charged with robbing a gas station on the morning of New Year’s Eve 2021. Authorities say he walked into a gas station near Andy’s Market – the site of Rasho’s murder – pulled out a gun, assaulted the clerk and fled.
He’s facing one count of armed robbery causing serious injury, one count of assault with intent to do great bodily Harm, and two counts of felony firearm. A jury trial is scheduled for later this month, with Cox also serving as the judge.
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