California Man Sentenced to 95 Years for Killing Ex-Girlfriend in Front of Her Children After She Tried to Escape Abusive Relationship
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA – A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 95 years to life in prison for the 2017 murder of his ex-girlfriend, whom he gunned down in front of her two young children after weeks of stalking and harassment.
“I Ain’t Playing With You,” Gunman Told Her
According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Lawyer Dushan McBride ambushed Rashanda Franklin, 30, after she ended their two-year relationship and tried to move on with her life.
On April 14, 2017, Franklin was driving her two sons, ages 9 and 5, to school when she noticed McBride following her. She called 911 in fear after spotting him waiting in a church parking lot near her children’s drop-off point.
Moments later, McBride cut off her car at the intersection of 29th Street and Rheem Avenue, jumped out, and confronted her.
As the 911 operator listened, Franklin pleaded, “I’ve got my kids in the car.”
McBride responded, “I ain’t playing with you,” before opening fire — killing her in front of her children.
Children’s Screams Captured on 911 Call
While the children were not physically hurt, their terrified screams could be heard on the 911 recording.
“Those kids loved their mom,” Franklin’s aunt, Ummu Ikharo-Oza, told KGO-TV. “She was everything to them.”
Family members said Franklin had repeatedly told police and relatives that McBride had been stalking and threatening her in the weeks before the murder.
Jury Conviction and Sentencing
After years of delays, a jury earlier this year found McBride guilty of murder, stalking, firing into an occupied vehicle, and using a firearm to cause death.
In October, Judge Diana Becton sentenced McBride to 95 years to life in prison, calling the act one of the most cold and calculated domestic violence killings the county had seen.
“This tragic case underscores the devastating reality of domestic violence, which claims far too many lives,” District Attorney Becton said. “While no verdict can bring back a mother taken from her children, this sentence provides her family with a measure of justice.”
A Mother Remembered
Friends described Franklin as a loving mother and devoted daughter who worked hard to provide for her family.
Local advocacy groups have since used her story to raise awareness about the warning signs of stalking and abuse, urging victims to seek help early.
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