Dallas, Texas – Keith Richmond, a 36-year-old man, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction in a tragic Fourth of July shooting incident that resulted in the death of one woman and severe injury to another in North Texas.
A Tragic Holiday Incident Leads to Life Sentence
On an ill-fated return to Dallas after a holiday boating trip in Rockwall, Keith Richmond turned a celebratory day into a nightmare. Richmond was found guilty of murder and aggravated assault for shooting his girlfriend, Hayley Plouck, and her sister, Hillary Plouck, while driving back from their Fourth of July outing. The jury, after a week-and-a-half-long trial, heard harrowing details of the event that unfolded in 2022, leading to their unanimous verdict.
The sequence of events, as detailed by the District Attorney’s Office, began when Richmond, under circumstances yet to be fully understood, shot both passengers of his vehicle. In a distressing act, he pulled off Interstate 30 near the Dalrock exit in Rowlett, dragged Hillary Plouck’s body from the car, and, after Hayley Plouck managed to escape the vehicle, fled the scene.
Richmond’s subsequent attempt to evade justice by driving to his mother’s apartment in Garland for a quick change of clothes was foiled by Garland police officers, who spotted him and his vehicle, leading to a foot chase and his eventual arrest.
Hillary Plouck succumbed to her injuries, including a fatal shot to the chest, and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Her sister Hayley survived the attack but suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
The jury was informed of Richmond’s criminal background, including a previous murder conviction in 2008 for which he served 10 years, and his involvement in a pending drug case at the time of the shooting. Additionally, evidence presented at the trial implicated Richmond in human trafficking activities.
Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper emphasized the commitment to holding violent criminals accountable, stating, “We do not hesitate to act when violent offenders come across our county lines and victimize others, and we are not afraid to seek and give the maximum sentence to those who commit crimes. Criminals take notice.”
