TWO GET 320 YEARS EACH IN SWEET 16 SHOOTING
Impact statements were read from the aunt of Samuel Hill and sister of Ajanaye Hill as well as other family of both teens. Ajanaya White’s sister, Ayana White called the shooters “cowards and punks.” White said she found out how her sister had died by a stranger calling Hill’s phone.
”10:44PM is ingrained in my soul.”—Ayana White
”Y’all thought it was funny to ruin lives.”—Ayana White
”You took lives—two lives.”—Ayana White
”I hope and pray you all never see the light of day outside these walls again.”—Ayana White
”Because of you three, I’ll never see her again.”—Ayana White
”Because of you three, I’ll never be able to make new memories of her.” —Ayana White
”I hope you start to never know peace.”—Ayana White
Samuel Moon’s sister told the three “take accountability for your actions because that’s what’s most important.”
Beverly Lefleur, Samuel Moon’s mother, dropped gems into a jar, each gem signifying the 20+ minutes that an officer tried to save Samuel Moon’s life by CPR.
”You took innocent children’s lives.”—Beverly LeFleur
”I hope you boys are listening, because you’re just boys.”—Beverly LeFleur
”You’ve stolen, you’ve killed, and you’ve dstroyed.”—Beverly LeFleur
”He would have been a senior in high school, but you stole that away from him.”—Beverly LeFleur
”As the mother of Samuel Michael Moon, may your souls be ever tormented in this life until you give your souls to God—completely to God.”—Beverly Lefleur
Shanel White, mother of Ajanaye Hill, also spoke.
”All those dreams are gone because y’all decided to act reckless.”—Chanell White
”Y’all are montsters, murderers.”—Chanell White
”I will never hear her voice or see her smile.”—Chanell White
”Eight other children were shot. Several were injured.”—Chanell White
”So many lives have been torn apart because of what y’all did.”—Chanell White
”We as parents are terrified to let our children out in this crazy world.”—Chanell White
”Y’all played big roles in this senseless mass shooting.”——Chanell White
”Timothy, you sat here, laughing, smirking, like this is some type of joke.”—Chanell White
White also blamed the fathers for encouraging gang behavior.
”The only thing I have left is the hope that justice will be served.”—Chanell White
”Our children are gone, all over a deceased person in a social media post. This is wild to me.”—Chanell White
Friends of both Ajanaye Hill and Samuel Moon spoke as well. One friend stated she had known him since elementary school. Many asked for the maximum sentence for the three.
The three were not found guilty of murder. Coleman and Cottman were charged with aggravated assault, violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and firearm possession charges. Smart was convicted of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Cottman’s lawyer then spoke and stated that the sentence “should not be excessive.” She stated the evidence was hard for her to reconcile. She then stated he took care of his sister. She stated that three people will talk about Cottman: his grandmother, a family friend, and a licensed clinical social worker. The lawyer stated Cotton was “worthy and capable of rehabilitation.”
The three people spoke. Cottman’s grandmother stated “he is not a monster” and said “he is not a hardened criminal.”
The family friend, Demarco Williams, told the courtroom that there was '“something special” about Cottman. He stated that Cottman showed “signs of good character”.
Cottman’s lawyer had the social worker, Felicia Sullivan, take the witness stand while she asked her questions. Sullivan is based out of Jacksonville, Florida. She specializes in mitigation and sentencing advocacy. The lawyer asked her if there were factors that would affect sentencing. Sullivan stated there were “neighborhood offenses” and stated his age was a factor. Sullivan talked to one of Cottman’s teachers from primary school and stated he had ADHD but never had behavioral problems due to that. She stated from age 12-13 he started having behavioral issues after his father left his life.
Cottman’s lawyer asked for the “maximum amount of probation” and a “sentence that recognizes his youth.”
McClain stated he would be “glad to hear from other counsel.” The lawyer for Tahkel Beverly-Smart spoke, stating that Beverly-Smart is in college and “intends to go back to school” and is “first offender eligible”. The lawyer stated that they tried to make the jury realize that Beverly-Smart was “not as complicit” as the others in the case. The lawyer stated that Beverly-Smart drove the other two away from the scene.
At this point the stream died and it returned a few minutes later with the third lawyer, the lawyer for Coleman, speaking and objecting to sentencing on numerous counts. McClain stated that the inconsistent verdict rule was abolished in 1986. The lawyer had Coleman’s mother speak.
”We’ve all made mistakes…he’s not a bad kid.”—Donahue, Coleman’s mother.
Judge McClain stated he would have to take into account that the aggravated assault charges led to deaths.
“There’s no mandatory minimum in this case.”-—Judge McClain
Judge McClain stated that he heard “points being made about single parenthood” and how it affects people as they grow up. He stated he “can’t hold someone’s absent father’ for the crime.
“I haven’t seen anyone doing a damn thing about it>” —Judge McClain
”Until somebody stands up and decides to be a man and parent their child instead of leave, we’re just going to have more courtrooms full of grieving people and we’re going to be burying more children.”—Judge McClain
”My observation is that the first step to rehabilitation that is not optional and has to be made every time is taking responsibilty for what you have done. And that step has not been taken today by any of these defendants.”—Judge McClain
Judge McClain stated the three “decided to be gangsters.” "
”No worst crime has ever been committed in Douglas County than this one.”—Judge McClain
Judge Mclain said the year before, he had to try another case in which one child was shot. But it did not compare to this case, he stated.
”Shooting people is not cheaper by the dozen.”—Judge McClain
Each defendant has 30 days to appeal and be represented by an attorney.
There will be consecutive sentences on the weapons charges.
SENTENCES
Timothy Coleman Jr., 20: 320 years in prison
Kingston Cottman, 19: 320 years in prison
Tahkel Beverly-Smart, 23: 20 years in prison.