By Linda Cicoira
Killer Eric Bruno Custis was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing a teenager in a drive-by shooting in Onancock in 2019 and committing an armed robbery at Shore Stop in Accomac in 2023.
On Monday, Northampton Circuit Court Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. added 12 years to the 27-year-old defendant’s prison sentence for the armed robbery of the Family Dollar in Exmore. The new sentence will be served consecutively with the previous one, so the total sentence is now 27 years.
“We can’t leave you in this community for long,” the judge said. “We have to get you out of here.” If Custis is released, he will be subject to numerous probation conditions, including probation, 30 years of good behavior and the loss of Fourth Amendment rights for five years.
Betty Ann Stevens, the manager of the Exmore store, said the incident was “sealed in her mind.” Her statement began by thanking God for giving her life. But it was obvious she was angry at the defendant for pointing a gun at her face and demanding money. He got away with $88.
“You are a spawn of the devil,” Stevens said, turning to Custis. “You are a disgrace to man and to humanity. Your decisions have affected hundreds… have traumatized my 82-year-old mother, my four children, my… grandchildren and my marriage. That’s just my circle,” she continued.
Stevens also listed the community, other businesses, the defendant’s family, another store employee and the other employee’s family as victims. “You almost destroyed my family,” she said. “If you had kept your mouth shut, you probably wouldn’t have gotten caught,” she added, explaining that he had bragged about what he had done and someone came back to tell her.
“You have no respect and no remorse,” she continued. “I’ve seen you smile twice today… It’s still clear you think this is a joke.”
Stevens said it was not the first time Custis had visited the store on the day of the robbery. He had previously purchased the black mask he used to cover his face during the crime.
Prosecutor Jack Thornton said: “This is not a pickpocketing incident. This was planned. He came in and … bought the tools of the trade at the exact location he was going to rob.”
Custis, who lived on Wharton Circle in Greenbush, had previously pleaded guilty to killing 19-year-old Tayvion Laquan “Tay Man” Smith, a recent high school graduate. The defendant’s criminal history report said he “regretted everything that happened” and “(just) wanted to scare them a little” when his shots blew up a Jacob Street apartment.
Accomack District Attorney Spencer Morgan said Custis robbed stores to raise money so he could leave the area because he feared retaliation for the death.
