2021 Lynchburg murder suspect pleads guilty and sentenced to prison

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – The suspect in a fatal shooting in Lynchburg has pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

On November 13, 2024, 29-year-old Ja'Quain Quintez Miller pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in a homicide, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm Firearm while simultaneously possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.

Miller also pleaded guilty to two probation violations and was convicted on a pending charge of assault and battery on a correctional officer. He was sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison.

All charges relate to the April 20, 2021 death of Scottie Humbles, 47, at the James Crossing Apartments. Lynchburg police responded to the building at 805 Greenfield Drive to report that a man had been shot. Officers found Humbles, the apartment complex's maintenance worker, face down on the parking lot sidewalk. He had two gunshot wounds to the head and was pronounced dead.

Witness statements led to police finding Miller in the woods and him being taken into custody.

An officer noticed Miller was naked, covered in leaves and dirt and appeared to have blood on him. According to police, Miller was sweating profusely and repeatedly said, “Don't shoot me” and “Let me live, I'll do good.” Miller told police, “I'm down now. I will be a good man. I won’t do anything bad anymore, just let me see my son.”

On his way to a police car, Miller saw his family and began screaming, “I’m sorry to everyone. I'm just sorry. Don’t shoot me,” police said. He told police: “I'm fine, but I did something bad.”

According to Commonwealth's Attorney Bethany Harrison, surveillance footage of the crime showed Humbles walking out the front of the building and across the parking lot to his golf cart, which contained his tools. Miller is simultaneously seen walking directly toward Humbles, and then surveillance shows a person falling to the ground as the two men crossed paths, and then Miller is seen running away, making a move toward a dumpster, and undress.

According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, in the dumpster police found a fanny pack belonging to Miller containing his wallet and identification card, individually wrapped torn cocaine bag corners, a cell phone and a .380 Ruger pistol.

Shell casings from the parking lot where Humbles was found and projectiles recovered from his body were analyzed by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science and determined to have been fired from the handgun found in the dumpster.

Miller was originally charged with first-degree murder based on witness testimony, but the charge was reduced to second-degree murder due to witnesses' failure to cooperate, refusal to go to trial, and open hostility toward the prosecution of CA Harrison.

Harrison says the Humbles family was consulted on the plea agreement and was satisfied with the length of the active prison sentence and sought resolution of the case.

After serving his sentence, Miller must undergo 36 months of probation, be on good behavior for 80 years and have no contact with the Humbles family.

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