On an ordinary school morning in 2017, 29-year-old Rashanda Franklin was doing what countless parents do every day — dropping her children off at school in Richmond. Within moments, that routine act of love and responsibility turned into unimaginable tragedy.
Prosecutors say Franklin had recently ended a relationship with Dushan McBride, a 51-year-old attorney. According to court records, what followed the breakup was a troubling pattern of alleged stalking and harassment. Authorities later described escalating behavior — repeated contact, surveillance, and actions that suggested an unwillingness to accept the relationship’s end.
On the day of the shooting, McBride reportedly ambushed Franklin in a church parking lot near the school, confronting her in front of her children. She was shot and killed at the scene. The violence of the act — carried out during a moment meant for safety and normalcy — stunned the community and left her family shattered.
The case moved slowly through the justice system. In 2025, McBride was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors characterized the killing as planned and deliberate, arguing that it was the culmination of weeks of fixation and escalating behavior after Franklin made the decision to leave the relationship.
Beyond the courtroom outcome, the case has continued to raise difficult conversations about warning signs in abusive or controlling relationships. Experts frequently point to patterns such as persistent unwanted contact, monitoring, threats, or attempts to isolate a partner as red flags that can escalate into violence. When someone refuses to respect boundaries after a breakup, the risk level can increase significantly.
Franklin’s death is not only a story about one tragic morning — it is also part of a broader and painful reality surrounding intimate partner violence. Advocates emphasize the importance of taking stalking behaviors seriously, documenting incidents, and seeking support from law enforcement or domestic violence resources when warning signs emerge.
For her children and loved ones, the loss is permanent. A mother who was simply taking her kids to school never came home. And while a life sentence closes one chapter in court, it cannot restore what was taken.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking or intimate partner violence, confidential help is available through national and local domestic violence hotlines. Early intervention and support can make a critical difference.