An Illinois woman has been sentenced to more than three decades in prison after admitting to fatally shooting her boyfriend during a heated argument.

Prosecutors say 20-year-old Tnashia Wash opened fire on her boyfriend, 30-year-old Roderick Richardson, inside his Peoria home on October 16, 2023.

According to the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, Wash initially told investigators she acted in self-defense, claiming that Richardson had threatened to shoot her and her child during a dispute about their relationship.

Wash alleged that Richardson charged at her, prompting her to grab his gun and fire six times. However, forensic evidence told a different story.

An autopsy revealed that four of the bullets struck Richardson in the back and were not fired at close range, undermining Wash’s claim of self-defense. Prosecutors highlighted that the gunshot wounds were inconsistent with her version of events.

Facing trial, Wash ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June, just days before jury selection was scheduled to begin. Chief Judge Katherine Gorman sentenced her to 31 years in prison, though she could become eligible for parole after serving 20 years.

During the sentencing hearing, Richardson’s mother submitted a letter that prosecutors read aloud in court.

In the emotional statement, she described the “unimaginable pain of having to bury her son,” adding that Wash “didn’t just take her son’s life but shattered their family and left a permanent hole that can never be repaired.”