Miami-Dade judge sentenced Damon Darling to 50 years in prison for firing the bullet that killed 9-year-old Sherdavia Jenkins in Liberty City three years ago.
Darling, 24, was found guilty in October of manslaughter and possessing a deadly weapon. The half-century sentence was the most allowed by law and was at the request of Sherdavia's family.
Prosecutors told jurors the bullet that struck Jenkins in the neck was fired from Darling's AK-47 as he was locked in a shoot out with Leroy Larose in the Pork N Beans projects. Jenkins died in her mother's arms at the entrance of her home as she tried to flee the spray of bullets.
"It was a selfish, violent act. Nothing I can do to punish you can minimize the pain of the family of the dead child,'' Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez said at sentencing. "For you sir, I have no particular sympathy.''
Jenkins' death galvonized Liberty City against crime and random acts of violence and spurred Miami City Hall into action to improve the area.
