A man convicted of murder for orchestrating the killing of a 17-year-old girl who had reported him to the police has been identified as Lenard White, aged 37. Isabella Scavelli and her mother, La Shawn Pope, reported White to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for sexually assaulting Isabella. Tragically, Isabella was shot dead the day after the report when a gunman attacked her at her home.
The assailant, Sheldon Robinson, who carried out the deadly attack, was crucial in leading authorities to apprehend White, who is Robinson’s cousin. Following a federal jury trial, White was found guilty of multiple charges, including murder and murder for hire, as announced by the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Isabella, a high school junior actively involved in various school programs like the ROTC, was fatally shot in the back while trying to escape for help upon seeing Robinson at her doorstep. Her mother, La Shawn, sustained injuries during the incident, witnessing her daughter’s tragic death.
In a subsequent motion for detention, prosecutors expressed concerns about La Shawn’s survival, leading to her being airlifted to a hospital in Tampa for treatment. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF swiftly identified Robinson and White as suspects in the case. The murder weapon was eventually recovered from Robinson’s backyard, where he had buried it six months later.
Both White and Robinson were convicted on multiple charges and now face the possibility of receiving multiple life sentences. Their sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2026.