ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. — On April 29, 2025, 23-year-old Zyshon Riakeem Bell, a self-admitted member of the Makk Balla Family gang, admitted guilt in Accomack Circuit Court for six charges linked to a 2023 drive-by shooting. Bell, formerly of Princess Anne, Maryland, and nearby Virginia towns, confessed to firing at a Painter-area home occupied by five people, including three children, in a revenge-fueled attack.
The June 2023 shooting targeted a residence on A.S. West Road, tied to a 2020 double murder case involving the homeowners’ son, who was convicted for the killings. Bell’s charges included shooting from a car, attempted wounding, firearm use, and gang activity. A plea deal with Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan dropped eight other charges, setting Bell’s sentence between eight and 18 years, with a July 10, 2025, sentencing date.
Investigators found 35 shell casings at the scene, with bullet damage to the home’s interior. Surveillance and DNA evidence tied Bell to a firearm and the crime. Three others charged in the shooting await trial. The case, overseen by Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr., connects to a broader probe into local violence, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb gang activity on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Bell’s plea marks progress in addressing the region’s violent crime challenges.
