La’Shaun Quintae Holloway, 27, was convicted of second-degree felony murder and child abuse, according to a Monday news release from the City of Virginia Beach. Judge Afshin Farashahi handed down a 50-year sentence, suspending 20 years, leaving Holloway to serve 30 years behind bars.
The fatal attack occurred just days before Christmas, on December 19, 2020. Holloway had been watching his infant daughter when family members overheard him yelling and cursing at her, reportedly furious about an Xbox headset. Moments later, the baby fell silent.
Family members rushed to check on the child and found her unresponsive. She was taken to a local hospital, where she died a few days later from catastrophic injuries.
According to the news release, the infant suffered “26 rib fractures in various stages of healing, bruising on her chest wall, a fractured clavicle, a skull fracture, bruising to her skull around her eyes, and an extensive brain bleed.” Medical professionals determined the injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma.
Holloway was convicted on August 26, 2024, following a three-day jury trial. Although Virginia’s sentencing guidelines for such crimes typically recommend a maximum of just over 23 years in prison, the court determined that the sheer brutality of the attack warranted a harsher punishment.
“In arguing for this high sentence, the Commonwealth referenced the significant injuries, the baby’s young age, and the brutality of the murder,” the release stated. “Judge Farashahi agreed that those factors warranted a sentence above the guidelines.”
Records show Holloway had a prior criminal history, including convictions for child abuse and neglect, eluding police, hit-and-run, and DUI, among other offenses.
While Holloway’s case stands out for its sheer horror, it also underscores a troubling reality surrounding gaming-related anger. A 2022 survey by Opera GX, published through PR Newswire, found that one in four gamers admitted to destroying their equipment during fits of rage. Two-thirds reported feeling angry when losing, and a majority said gaming frustration had ruined their day at least once.
In response to the phenomenon, Opera GX even released a parody product — the “Anger Controller” — aimed at drawing attention to the issue. “Anger Controllers are our tongue-in-cheek way of highlighting the very real issue of rage and anger management amongst gamers, which impacts many individuals including those they play with,” said Maciej Kocemba, head of Opera GX.