A judge has sentenced a 16-year-old girl to 14 years and 10 months in prison for the shooting death of her 14-year-old friend in 2024.
Sentencing for the teen came four months after a jury found her guilty of manslaughter. The panel deliberated for less than 40 minutes.
The maximum sentence is 30 years. Prosecutors had offered an 11-year prison term as part of a plea deal, but that was rejected by the defense. The girl has 631 days of credit for time already served while awaiting resolution of this case.
Assistant State Attorney Adam Smith asked the judge to sentence the juvenile as an adult to 15 years in prison. Smith told the court that the child was on probation for felony battery at the time of the death, and the shooting was reckless.
Defense
lawyer David Mengers said his client was 14 at the time of the shooting. He said she took responsibility for her actions.
Mengers said she has shown remorse, is not a danger to the community, and the shooting was not a willful act, but an accident.
About the case
The Star-Banner is not publishing the girl’s name, or the names of her relatives who were present at the hearing, because she's a minor.
Marion County Sheriff's officials arrested the girl in November 2024 in connection with the death of Marshaun Jones in October.
Deputies said the girl and three boys were inside a Marion Oaks residence playing with guns. According to authorities, Marshaun pointed the firearm at the girl and it did not fire.
Deputies said she took the gun from Marshaun, pulled the trigger, and shot him in the face. The children left the boy in the home after the shooting, law enforcement officials said.
On the witness stand, the girl told the court she thought the gun was safe because other guns in the home were fired and nothing happened.
She said the shooting was an accident.
Statements by victim's and defendant's families
In court, prosecutor Smith read aloud a prepared statement from Marshaun's mother. She said she hasn't been the same since her son's death.
The victim's father, a pastor, went to the podium and told the court he loves and misses his son. He said whenever it's his birthday, his son would come into the room early in the morning so he could be the first to wish him happy birthday.
Asked by defense attorney Mengers what he thinks the girl's punishment should be, the man said that's not for him to decide, and it's out of his hands.
In a prepared statement read aloud by the prosecution, Marshaun's sister said her brother was her protector and friend. She said they talked about everything, and she misses his company.
For the defense, a Sunday school teacher said the defendant always asked questions about the Bible and was very organized. She said the girl took a special interest in her two autistic children.
The defendant's mother said her child is very respectful, obedient, and enjoys being with children. She said she understands what Marshaun's family is feeling because her own father's death was from a firearm.
She said what her daughter did wasn't intentional, and her child loved Marshaun. She said her daughter and Marshaun talked and shared things with each other. She asked the judge to sentence her daughter as a minor, not as an adult, and to have mercy on her.
Defendant's statement
The defendant told the court she was sorry for what happened, and hopes one day Marshaun's family can forgive her. She said she and Marshaun made each other laugh, and they were happy with each other's company.
She said they were close and she made a bad decision to go to the house that day. She said she misses him very much and wishes she could see him again. When the shooting occurred, she said, she was shocked and scared.
She said she wants to help others.
The judge told both sides he was sorry for their loss and told the defendant she will have a life once she's released from prison.
After the sentencing, the girl thanked the judge for showing mercy and said she hopes come out of this as a better person.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion County teen sentenced for fatal shooting of friend | Exclusive
