A man who was 15 when he fatally shot another teen at a northwest Miami-Dade apartment complex back in 2022 accepted responsibility for the killing at an emotional hearing on Monday.
Read more Lawsuit blames ChatGPT maker OpenAI for helping plan a school shooting
Tavarus Williams, now 19, accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in the killing of 17-year-old Cairi McNear.
In exchange, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by a probation term of 10 years.
Family members, who approved of the deal, were in court and spoke as the sentencing was handed down, directly addressing Williams.
“I forgive you, because you could be my son,” Aurianna McNear said. “Although I did not birth you, today I will call you my son. You owe me that. Because the truth of the matter Tavarus is I don’t think you were loved properly.”
“I do forgive you, it took me a long time for me to get to this point but I do forgive you because that I know that you made a mistake,” father Corey McNear said.
Read more Man killed in West Park crash that split car in half identified by BSO
The shooting happened May 4, 2022, at an apartment complex in the 7100 block of Northwest 14th Place, just blocks from Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
Authorities said Williams, 15 at the time, pulled a gun out of his pants and shot McNear several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Williams, who fled the scene on a mini bike, later told investigators the shooting happened during an argument.
“Cai was my heartbeat,” Aurianna McNear said. “He was the only child that I had that could speed my heart up, to slow it down.”
Read more Princess cruise ship docks in Port Canaveral after 115 sicken with norovirus