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Alajah Elizabeth Holmes, 19, at the time of the shooting, now 21, of York City, was driving a UHaul in the 300 block of West Jackson Street, York when she opened fire at her half-sister 18-year-old Amiya Paige, who was walking home on New Year's Eve in 2022 at 12:36 a.m., authorities explained in numerous releases.
Holmes entered a guilty plea to criminal homicide in August 2024 after "never disputing that she fired the fatal shot that killed 18-year-old Amiya Paige," DA Dave Sunday said. "Judge Musti Cook found Holmes guilty of first-degree murder following a degree of guilt hearing."
She was sentenced to a mandatory life in prison on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, by President Judge Cook, Sunday explained.
The Investigation
Police found Paige facedown with a single wound to the back. She was taken to WellSpan York Hospital at 12:38 a.m. but she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased by Deputy Coroner Karen Frank at 1:17 a.m., according to a detailed release on Jan. 3.
Holmes turned herself over to the police on homicide charges with her attorney present on Jan. 6, 2023, according to the York City police department.
About Amiya
Amiya, also known as Miya, page was a 2022 graduate of Crispus Attucks Youth Build, according to her obituary posted by Etzweiler Funeral Home.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help her family cover the funeral expenses. The organizer Michael Slenker writes:
"Amiya was a high school graduate and was accepted into college to pursue her dream of becoming an ultra sound technician. She was loving, kind, smart, sweet and beautiful inside and out. She enjoyed doing nails and make-up on her spare time. She loved dancing and was always the life of the party. Her joyful free spirit will be greatly missed."
She is survived by her mom Patricia Brown, Kelvin Paige, and 12 siblings listed on her obituary.
Her community has also shared about its loss on social media.
Click here to read her full obituary on the Etzweiler Funeral Home website.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe.
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