Duval County

Justice served for 7-year-old girl killed in crossfire during 2018 robbery in Jacksonville

By ActionNewsJax.com News Staff
By ActionNewsJax.com News Staff

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

© 2020 Cox Media Group

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