Commonwealth v. Sa’Quan Tyreese Ward; Jury Finds Teen Guilty in Senseless Murder

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Sa’Quan Tyreese Ward, age 19, formerly of the 4800 block of Alisha Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was found guilty of Second Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm after a five-day jury trial. Circuit Court Judge Salvatore Iaquinto, who presided over the trial, will sentence Ward on February 20, 2026.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on April 5, 2024, the victim, Kalani Matthaeus Bailey-Cortez, and the mother of Bailey-Cortez’s child left a party separately.  The mother of Bailey-Cortez’s child texted Sa’Quan Ward to come pick her up.  Bailey-Cortez left the party with a friend and drove the friend home.  After his friend went inside the home, an SUV driven by Ward came upon Bailey-Cortez’s parked car.  Ward exited the SUV and fired five shots at Bailey-Cortez’s car as Bailey-Cortez attempted to drive away.  Bailey-Cortez died at the scene.

Police responded to the scene and began an investigation.  They reviewed doorbell camera footage which captured the incident.  Police recovered a cell phone at the scene, which was determined to belong to Ward.  A forensic analysis of Ward’s phone revealed images and videos of Ward with a firearm consistent with the make and caliber of the firearm used in the homicide.  Ward’s movements on the night of the homicide were further corroborated by cell phone location data records.   

Ward was a juvenile (age 17) at the time of the offense, but the case was certified to the Circuit Court for trial as an adult due to the serious nature of the crimes.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys David R. Talmage and Charles D. Agerter prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.