One of Five Co-Defendants Pleads Guilty in 2023 Deadly Drive-By Shooting

Timothy Hester agrees to testify against remaining co-defendants in exchange for 50-year sentence

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:57pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car window or bullet casing against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the violence and investigation of this drive-by shooting crime.The aftermath of a deadly drive-by shooting exposes the trauma and investigation of gun violence in the Springfield community.Springfield Today

Less than two weeks before his trial, 19-year-old Timothy Hester pleaded guilty to murder, assault, and weapons charges for his role in a 2023 drive-by shooting in downtown Springfield that killed 26-year-old Chaviz Nguyen and seriously injured his pregnant girlfriend Haley Frillman. As part of his plea deal, Hester agreed to testify against the three other co-defendants who have not yet stood trial.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of gun violence and mistaken identity crimes in the Springfield community. The guilty plea and agreement to testify could provide key evidence to convict the remaining suspects, though questions remain about the motive and whether the victims were targeted intentionally.

The details

Hester admitted to being the driver and one of the shooters in the November 2023 incident, in which multiple occupants of a dark sedan opened fire on Nguyen and Frillman's vehicle as they were headed to dinner. Nguyen was killed, and Frillman, who was 29 weeks pregnant at the time, was seriously injured. Hester also pleaded guilty to assaulting a detective while in juvenile detention in 2024.

  • On November 14, 2023, the drive-by shooting occurred in downtown Springfield.
  • On July 24, 2024, Hester assaulted a detective while in juvenile detention.
  • On April 3, 2026, Hester pleaded guilty to murder, assault, and weapons charges.
  • Hester is scheduled to be formally sentenced in October 2026.

The players

Timothy Hester

A 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to being the driver and a shooter in the 2023 drive-by shooting that killed Chaviz Nguyen.

Chaviz Nguyen

A 26-year-old man who was killed in the 2023 drive-by shooting while riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by his pregnant girlfriend, Haley Frillman.

Haley Frillman

The 22-year-old pregnant girlfriend of Chaviz Nguyen who was seriously injured in the 2023 drive-by shooting.

Cesar Bolanos

One of the three remaining co-defendants who has not yet stood trial for the 2023 drive-by shooting.

Quartze 'Quartez' Washington

One of the three remaining co-defendants who has not yet stood trial for the 2023 drive-by shooting.

Arshaun Bradley

One of the three remaining co-defendants who has not yet stood trial for the 2023 drive-by shooting.

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What they’re saying

“Chaviz Nguyen was struck at least six times. Bullets went through his leg, his back, punctured his lung, liver and kidney. Those wounds were not survivable. He died there in that passenger seat next to the woman he loved.”

— Conor Browne, Assistant Prosecutor

“She was shot in the hand, the leg and the head. At the time, she was 29 weeks pregnant with their child. That child survived, and though that is a blessing, it does not lessen the gravity that child will grow up knowing that before he even took his first breath someone made the choice that killed his father and nearly killed his mother.”

— Conor Browne, Assistant Prosecutor

What’s next

The three remaining co-defendants - Cesar Bolanos, Quartze 'Quartez' Washington, and Arshaun Bradley - are scheduled for jury trials later this year. Hester's testimony could be crucial evidence in convicting them.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the devastating impact of gun violence and mistaken identity crimes in the Springfield community. While Hester's guilty plea and agreement to testify provide some accountability, the loss of Chaviz Nguyen's life and the trauma inflicted on Haley Frillman and their unborn child will have lasting effects.