Iowa City man given maximum sentence in murder plea deal

Hunter
06/25/22

An area transient who took a plea deal on a murder charge has been given a maximum sentence.

23-year-old Sammy Hamed was sentenced on Friday for the murder of 19-year-old Quincy Russom. Russom was shot and killed in February of 2021 inside a Governor Street apartment.

Hamed was found shortly after the shooting with several of Russom’s possessions, including his phone. Forensic testing matched a gun found on Hamed’s person to shells found inside the apartment.

Hamed was initially charged with 1st Degree Murder, a Class A Felony punishable by life in prison. In March, he withdrew his plea of not guilty ahead of a jury trial and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of 2nd Degree Murder.

Friday, Judge Andrew Chappell sentenced Hamed to the maximum 50 years allowed, which by law means that he will serve at least 35 years in prison.