SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County man convicted in a shooting that injured a Sanford boy was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday.
Last month, Daquan Butts, 22, was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder. Prosecutor’s asked for and were given a life sentence, because Butts had been arrested over a dozen times and convicted of three felonies.
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Butts’ family told the judge Butts’ children should not spend their lives without their father and broke into tears when the sentence was given.
"I mean whatever you all do, I got to accept it, but I still want you all to keep my kids into consideration,” the mother of Butts’ children, Christina Lawson said.
Prosecutors said Butts fired shots after an argument with a man and accidentally shot Jeremiah Taylor, who was riding his bike nearby.
Taylor survived and identified Butts as the shooter.
Prosecutors said Taylor, who turned 11 and is still suffering from his injuries, has been threatened by Dwayne Brown, Butts' friend.
Detectives said after the conviction, Brown threatened an intern with the State Attorney's Office in the courthouse, and then Taylor while he was playing basketball in the same spot he was shot in last September.
"We have been looking for Mr. Brown for a number of weeks," said Shannon Cordingly of the Sanford Police Department.
Investigators said they talked to Brown over the phone, but he refused to turn himself in.
Detectives believe Brown might be hiding in Sanford.
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