Michelle Swift says she is preparing for court as the man accused of killing her 23-year-old daughter moves toward trial.
NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly a year after Shakira Clark was found dead inside her Norfolk home, her mother is preparing for the trial of the man accused of killing the 23-year-old and says she wants him to face the strongest punishment available if he is convicted.
Michelle Swift spoke publicly about the loss as the criminal case against Keandre Debrough moves toward trial. Norfolk police charged Debrough, who was 25 at the time of his arrest, with second-degree murder after Clark died following what investigators described as a domestic-related stabbing on Oct. 27, 2025. Debrough has not been convicted, and the charge against him remains an allegation unless proved in court.
Police said dispatchers received a call about a domestic incident shortly before 8 a.m. at a home in the 400 block of East Brambleton Avenue. Officers found Clark suffering from life-threatening injuries, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators identified Debrough as a suspect and took him into custody in Portsmouth the following day.
For Swift, the coming court proceedings are another stage in a loss that began with the news of her daughter’s death. She told 13News Now that she wants a life sentence if Debrough is convicted. Her comments reflect a mother’s view of the punishment she believes is appropriate; any sentence would ultimately depend on the charges proved in court and decisions made through Virginia’s criminal justice process.
The case has also drawn attention to events in the weeks before Clark’s death. Court records cited in local news reports showed Clark had obtained a protective order against Debrough on Oct. 1. The order expired several days later. Separate reporting based on court records said Clark had pending domestic-related allegations involving Debrough before she was killed.
According to reporting on a criminal complaint, Clark called 911 on the morning of Oct. 27 and reported that her former boyfriend was breaking into her home. Police have not publicly released a complete account of all evidence expected to be presented at trial, and the prosecution will carry the burden of proving the criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Clark was also remembered by relatives and friends during a candlelight vigil after her death. The gathering shifted attention from the criminal investigation to the young woman her family lost, while the court case continued. Her death left relatives waiting for answers and for a legal process that can move far more slowly than the first days of a homicide investigation.
Debrough remains accused in Clark’s death as the case moves toward trial. Swift said she is focused on seeing the case through for her daughter and family, while the court will determine guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented.
Author note: Last updated August 23, 2026.