SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. β A 26-year-old who was arrested more than three years ago for the shooting death of a teenager at a Florida park will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The State Attorney's Office announced the lifelong sentence for Bacarri Justice Austell on Friday. Austell was found guilty for 2nd degree murder back in November for the August 2019 shooting at Royal Park in Sumter County.
The teen, Chris'sean Williams, was just two days shy of his 17th birthday when he died, a news release says.
The deadly shooting unfolded during a "video game gathering" at the park, the State Attorney's Office says. At the time, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office reported that Williams was near a basketball court when someone came up and shot him several times. Witnesses told investigators that Williams was trying to run away when he was shot.
Austell would go on to claim that he thought Williams was someone who had previously threatened him, which was one of "many various statements he told law enforcement." He claimed he was in fear for his life and had a justifiable use of force.
Investigators were able to prove otherwise, and ultimately, a jury agreed with their findings.
"This life sentence echoes the profound consequences of not just one, but two young lives lost," said William "Bill" Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. "As our community grapples with the tragedy of this teenager's murder, may Austell's sentence serve as a resolute reminder that our commitment to justice demands accountability for the choices we make."
