JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Summary of Friday’s sentencing hearing Jan. 31:
Justice was served Friday in the death of Heidy Rivas Villanueva, 7, who was caught in the middle of a shootout in a shopping center off 103rd Street.
The child’s parents were in the courtroom as a judge handed down the sentence for four defendants in the case.
The families of the defendants were also there.
You could hear and see almost everyone crying, even the prosecutor, Mark Caliel, got choked up as he read the victim impact statements out loud.
Heidy’s parents are originally from Honduras; they fled violence there only to come to Jacksonville to be met with more violence.
In court, the prosecution showed the surveillance video of the shooting on Aug. 11, 2018.
The video shows the entire incident unfold.
You can see two of the defendants, Abrion Price and Trevonte Phoenix, approach a car for a deal disguised as a gun sale, rob the person.
Gun fire was exchanged between Phoenix and Stanley Harris III who was sitting in a car nearby.
Heidy, her dad, and her little sister were all sitting in the car just steps away.
This is how the sentences break down.
- Abrion Price was sentenced to 30 years.
- Trevonte Phoenix was 17 at the time of the shooting but was sentenced to as an adult to 30 years.
- Stanley Harris III was sentenced to 20 years plus five years for firing a gun from a car. Prosecutors believe it was the bullet from his gun that hit Heidy.
- Edward Garcia was sentenced to 527 days which he has already served for accessory after the fact.
Heidy’s parents were too emotional to speak on camera, but Action News Jax spoke to Caliel who said this case highlights the problem we’re facing in Jacksonville.
“It’s really is symbolic of the gun violence that we have in our community, everybody needs to step up and prevent these things from happening because we can’t lose any more innocent children like Heidy,” said Caliel.
Heidy wanted to be a doctor. Her mom said it’s because she liked helping people. She was brought to this country so that dream could be a reality but sadly it’ll never happen.
Her younger sister who is 3 years old still asks her parents when Heidy is coming home.
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Time stamps from Friday’s hearing:
Update Jan. 31 5:15 p.m.: The fourth defendant, Edward Garcia, was sentenced to 527 days which he’s already served for being an accessory after the fact.
He’ll be sent to Tallahassee to face separate charges.
Garcia was sentenced to 527 days which he has already served and is getting credit for. However, he will be going to Tallahassee to face a judge in a separate case @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/LPLndKNl8I
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Update Jan. 31, 3:25 p.m.: Stanley Harris III was sentenced to 20 years in prison for 3rd degree murder and 5 years for discharging a firearm. Harris’ sentence will run consecutively.
Harris was convicted of murder in the 3rd degree and was sentenced to 20 years, and 5 years for discharging a firearm. Sentences will run consecutively meaning he has to finish serving one sentence before he can begin the other @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/LroyLXqvS8
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Mom explaining Harris' upbringing, and how he was shot when he was 16 and another time while riding the school bus @ActionNewsJax
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Harris' mom doesn't believe the bullet that killed Heidy came from her son's gun. Judge explains that her son has already agreed to terms. She proceeds to apologize to Heidy's parents as she cries @ActionNewsJax
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Trevonte Phoenix, who was 17 at the time of Heidy Rivas Villanueva’s murder, was sentenced as an adult to 30 years in prison but will be allowed to petition for a review after 15 years in prison.
Trevonte Phoenix, 19, was sentenced to 30 years in prison but will be allowed to petition for a review after 15 years.
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
He was sentenced as an adult despite being 17 at the time of the shooting. Judge says his culpability was greater than Abrion Price's @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/H4b4oQy95k
Phoenix now speaking to the judge, explaining his childhood calling it "bad" says he was able to do anything he wanted, didn't have a mother figure and father was in prison @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
First day of middle school "I didn't have nothing, didn't have nothing to wear, didn't have a haircut," said Phoenix @ActionNewsJax
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Phoenix begins crying describing day in his past when he was shot, when he got out of the car he got run over. Says he was by himself, had no help. Got counseling for it but had to keep working @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Prosecutor says Phoenix was the first to come forward and was truthful. Says he's taken all the right steps since the incident to become a productive member of society but that doesn't undo what happened to Heidy @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Phoenix started chain of events that led to that little girl being shot and killed, said prosecutor. Asking court to sentence him as an adult but asks that state review his case after 15 years @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Update Jan. 31, 3:25 p.m.: Abrion Price, one of four defendants in the 2018 murder of a 7-year-old Jacksonville girl, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a 10 year minimum mandatory sentence.
Abrion Price, 23, was found guilty of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison with a minimum mandatory of 10 years.
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Soon as sentence read, an audible cry was let out in the courtroom by Price's family. Price shook his head no as sentence was read @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/xNastc2AIF
Next up is 19-year-old Trevonte Phoenix who was 17 at the time of the shooting. He's also facing a 2nd degree murder conviction. Prosecution says he and Price planned the robbery that led to a stray bullet hitting Heidy. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/vsOZQ7sf9F
— Lorena Inclán (@LorenaANjax) January 31, 2020
Original story: The four men responsible for the murder of 7-year-old Heidy Rivas Villanueva will be sentenced Friday afternoon.
Villanueva was hit by a stray bullet that came from a gun-deal gone bad, according to police, while sitting in her dad’s car in 2018.
Her parents are expected to read a statement in court.
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