Dexter Superville
(Photo : Richmond Police Department)
A Richmond man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing a bus passenger and assaulting the driver.

Dexter Superville
A Richmond man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing a GRTC passenger and assaulting a bus driver.
(Photo : Richmond Police Department)

As part of a plea agreement, a Virginia man has pleaded guilty to two violent transit crimes in which he assaulted a GRTC bus driver before shooting and killing another man on a GRTC bus a month later.

Dexter Superville, 25, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Tuesday; however, the Commonwealth approved suspending 20 of those years upon accepting the plea deal.

Prosecutors allege Superville attacked the GRTC bus driver, Wayne Harvell, on October 11, 2021, near Gilpin Court in Richmond, Virginia.

Police in Richmond initially charged Superville with a misdemeanor simple assault offense for assaulting Harvell and was then later released that same month, according to WTVR.

However, on November 9, he shot and killed 23-year-old Jonathan Contreras, who was riding a GRTC bus at Southside Plaza.

A CBS investigative reporter spoke with Harvell's wife, Kimberly, who reached out to the news station for help after GRTC denied her husband's workers' compensation claim.

Two months after broadcasting their report, a judge presiding over Harvell's appeal ruled in his favor.

"That was a fight for his life, so I wouldn't consider it misdemeanor assault. We've seen the video; this fight goes on for 10-15 minutes."

He's been kicked in the head violently several times; that goes beyond a misdemeanor; that's deadly intent when you kick someone in the head," declared Harvell's lawyers.

The couple is said to be pleased with the outcome, expressed their condolences to the Contreas family, and stated they will continue to pray for them.

Richmond Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Kohler also voiced similar sentiments, mentioning,

"We are pleased with the outcome and very happy for the family of Mr. Contreras and for Mr. Harvell to be able to put this behind them."