LYNCHBURG, Va. – June 17, 2026 UPDATE:
The Lynchburg Commonwealth’s attorney announced that Dance was sentenced to a total of 20 years to serve for the 2021 murder of Erica Boykin:
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- Second Degree Murder, 40 years with 23 years suspended
- Use of a firearm, 3 years to serve
- Discharge of Firearm in Public with Serious Injury, 5 years with 5 years suspended.
Dance has also been ordered to submit to 2 years of supervised probation upon his release from incarceration, and must maintain good behavior for 40 years.
Feb. 20, 2026 UPDATE:
The Lynchburg Commonwealth’s attorney announced that Dance pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a murder and discharging a firearm in public, resulting in injury, in court on Friday.
Sentencing is set for June 17 at 1:30 p.m. After consultation with the mother of Boykin, the Commonwealth made an agreement to nolle prosequi one charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and agreed to cap the sentencing argument at 20 years to serve for guilty pleas to Second Degree Murder and the other firearm offenses.
Original story:
A 23-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges, in a deadly shooting in the parking lot of a Lynchburg Family Dollar in 2021.
Markeem Dance of Lynchburg was arrested in connection with the homicide of 23-year-old Erica Boykin.
Boykin was shot just before 6 p.m. on June 14, 2021 in the parking lot of the Family Dollar on Fort Avenue.
Dance was arrested on the following charges:
- Second-degree murder
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Shooting within city limits - causing bodily injuries
Authorities said Dance was already in custody on unrelated charges. He is one of three suspects charged in connection with a shooting at Timbers Apartments in Lynchburg last week.
Dance is at Blue Ridge Regional Jail where he is being held without bond.
Anyone with information about the homicide incident is asked to contact Det. Miller at (434) 455-6160 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Enter a tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device.
Police said this remains an ongoing investigation.