Current:Home > FinanceA man apologizes for a fatal shooting at Breonna Taylor protest, sentenced to 30 years-LoTradeCoin
A man apologizes for a fatal shooting at Breonna Taylor protest, sentenced to 30 years
View Date:2024-12-24 07:49:46
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for fatally shooting a photographer at a protest over the police killing of Breonna Taylor.
Steven Lopez apologized for his actions before a judge handed down the sentence Tuesday in Jefferson Circuit Court, WDRB-TV reported. Lopez pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter in the death of Tyler Gerth, 27, and to several counts of wanton endangerment during the protest in 2020.
Witnesses said Lopez fired multiple shots into the crowd and video showed people running and hiding behind bushes, buildings and vehicles to avoid being hit by gunfire.
Lopez said he had been homeless and using drugs that “made me perceive a reality that was not real.”
“I cannot find enough words to convey how sorry I am,” he said. “I will forever remember the name Tyler Gerth and do everything I can to live up to the man he was.”
Gerth’s sisters said their hearts were broken by the death of their brother, who was kind and generous.
“I pray you are inspired by the man you stole from us and that you learn to be more like him,” Brittany Loewen said in her statement. “But, most of all, I pray that God intervenes in your life and that he redeems it. I truly believe that it’s what Tyler would have wanted.”
After the sentencing, Loewen said she is choosing to forgive Lopez because of her faith and that his apology was “meaningful.”
“I hope that it was sincere and that he is truly remorseful and I hope that he heard my words, that I want him to know who Tyler was and that hopefully Tyler can be an inspiration to him to make the most of his opportunity,” she said. “Because his life didn’t end that day.”
veryGood! (36)
Related
- Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
- Maisie Williams Details Intense 25-Pound Weight Loss For Dramatic New Role
- AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the race to replace George Santos
- Joe Flacco beats out Damar Hamlin in NFL Comeback Player of the Year surprise
- Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
- Stock market today: Tokyo hits 30-year high, with many Asian markets shut for Lunar New Year holiday
- The lonely throne of Usher, modern R&B's greatest showman
- Usher hints at surprise guests for Super Bowl halftime show, promises his 'best'
- Moana 2 Star Dwayne Johnson Shares the Empowering Message Film Sends to Young Girls
- Takeaways from the special counsel’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents
Ranking
- Advocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards
- SEC, Big Ten group looks to fix college sports. More likely? Screwing up even more.
- Utah governor says school board member who questioned a student’s gender ‘embarrassed the state’
- Netanyahu rejects Hamas' Gaza cease-fire demands, says troops will push into Rafah
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul press conference highlights: 'Problem Child' goads 'Iron Mike'
- Denzel Washington to reunite with Spike Lee on A24 thriller 'High and Low'
- Spencer Dinwiddie leads top NBA potential buyout candidates
- Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of The Spinners, dies at 85
Recommendation
-
Why Kathy Bates Decided Against Reconstruction Surgery After Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer
-
The lonely throne of Usher, modern R&B's greatest showman
-
A Nebraska bill would hire a hacker to probe the state’s computer, elections systems
-
Silent Donor platform offers anonymous donations to the mainstream, as privacy debate rages
-
Mike Tomlin's widely questioned QB switch to Russell Wilson has quieted Steelers' critics
-
US has enough funds for now to continue training Ukrainian pilots on F-16, National Guard chief says
-
Man accused of killing a priest in Nebraska pleads not guilty
-
Sewage Across Borders: The Tijuana River Is Spewing Wastewater Into San Diego Amid Historic Storms, Which Could Threaten Public Health