Burger King

Man Gets Life in Prison in 2009 Murder of Teen Outside North Miami Burger King

A man convicted of shooting and killing a teen in the parking lot of a North Miami Burger King in 2009 will be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Johnathan Simon, 27, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday in the September 2009 shooting of 15-year-old Jason Maharaj.

Authorities said Simon shot and killed Maharaj in the parking lot of the fast food restaurant on West Dixie Highway. Another teen was injured in the shooting.

Prosecutors said Maharaj was hanging out with a group of friends when Simon chased them down. After Maharaj tripped, Simon stood over him and shot him, execution style, prosecutors said.

Simon has been behind bars since his arrest shortly after the shooting. A jury found him guilty last month.

In court Friday, Simon told Maharaj's family he didn't kill the teen.

"I had to ask him why, why did you do it, you destroyed Jason's life and you destroyed your own life and your family's," aunt Nirmal Richard said.

"Cases like this are tragedies for the families, really in every direction," defense attorney Scott Miller said.

"I am saying sorry on behalf of me and my family for their tragedy in this situation," sister Tamara Simon said. "But once again, we want them to understand no one is winning, we both are losing, you know, because my brother may never step out."

In 2007, at the very same Burger King, the restaurant's manager was shot and killed during an armed robbery.

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