Haine announces 35-year sentence for teen convicted of murder in shooting of girl on porch

Edwardsville, IL — Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine announced today that a 19-year-old convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of an Alton girl, Ra’Niya Steward, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

With the sentencing Wednesday of Dakota M. Perry, all five defendants charged in connection with Ra’Niya’s death have now been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to prison. Circuit Judge Timothy Berkley issued the sentence for Perry.

The five defendants have been sentenced to a combined 178 years in prison.

“Today obviously marks an important moment in this case. All five people charged with the murder of Ra’Niya Steward have now been convicted and are serving long prison sentences,” Haine said. “That does not make this tragedy right, but it does represent accountability.”

He added: “This was an extraordinarily tragic case, and today we have reached its final chapter in the courtroom. Nothing we do in the criminal justice system can bring Ra’Niya back or erase the pain her family has endured. But we can hold those responsible accountable, and that is what we have done.”

Ra’Niya was shot Feb. 3, 2024, as she stood on the porch outside an Alton home. She died 10 days later at a St. Louis hospital. Evidence and testimony showed that Perry and a co-defendant fired shots at the house because they believed a rival gang member was at the house.

The cases of all five defendants were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Maricle, Chief of the Violent Crimes Division at the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Stewart.

Perry was 16 at the time of the shooting.

At the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Stewart argued that although Perry was young and perhaps influenced by his co-defendants, he could have chosen not to participate.

“He could have walked away,” Stewart argued. “He didn’t.”

In addition to the prison term, Perry will have to serve three years of mandatory supervised release, formerly known as parole.

“I want to commend the Alton Police Department, the investigators, and the prosecutors who worked on this case from the beginning,” Haine said. “This was a complicated prosecution involving five defendants who had different roles and different levels of culpability, but our office remained committed to seeing it through. Most importantly, we never lost sight of the fact that at the center of this case was a 13-year-old girl whose life was taken far too soon.”

He added: “Today, our focus should be on Ra’Niya Steward and her family. She was a loving daughter, a family member, a bright student and a young girl with a future ahead of her. I hope Ra’Niya’s family can take some measure of comfort in knowing that the people responsible have been held accountable in a court of law.”

The other defendants and their sentences are:

Vito Crowder (D.O.B. 9/17/2007) of Alton, sentenced to 35 years in prison for first-degree murder. According to testimony and evidence, was one of the shooters.

Alvin Perry III (D.O.B. 9/9/2004) of Alton, sentenced to 23 years in prison for first-degree murder. According to testimony and evidence, he was a driver. Under terms of his plea agreement, he provided testimony for the prosecution.

Raysean M. Colvin (D.O.B. 11/18/2004) of Alton, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received a 35-year prison sentence. According to testimony and evidence, he provided guns used by the shooters.

Keith A. Sanders (D.O.B. 11/8/1999) of Alton, found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. According to testimony and evidence, was ‘shot-caller’ who gave information and encouragement to co-defendants.