Posted on 10/29/2010 10:04:30 AM PDT by DCBryan1
LITTLE ROCK — The 19-year-old man charged in the Christmas Eve shooting death of a Salvation Army major pleaded guilty Friday to a murder charge and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Laquan Fitzpatrick was arrested March 16, nearly three months after the Dec. 24, 2009 killing of Philip Wise outside a Salvation Army community center in North Little Rock. Wise was shot in front of his three young children.
Fitzpatrick entered the court shortly after 9:30 a.m. and told Pulaski County Circuit Judge Barry Sims he understood his rights and was entering the plea. Sims accepted the agreed term of a 40-year sentence on the murder count and 10 years on a firearm enhancement.
The sentences will be served consecutively with Fitzpatrick eligible for parole in 35 years.
Just before being ushered out by officers, a shackled Fitzpatrick apologized for the crime.
"I want to say I'm sorry to Mrs. Wise and her family for their loss," he said to Sims, who told him to turn around and address Cindy Wise directly.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Wise," Fitzpatrick said, looking at her.
Afterward, Cindy Wise said through tears that she appreciated the gesture and would "continue to pray" for Fitzpatrick. The sentence was appropriate, she said, adding she did not support the death penalty in the case.
"I'm glad it's finally come to an end and hopefully we can begin to heal now," Wise said, breaking down. "I know deep in my heart that he just made a wrong choice."
Authorities believed Fitzpatrick and Brandon Leavy were attempting to rob Wise when the shot was fired. Leavy was fatally shot by a security guard during a purported robbery attempt at Dodge's Chicken convenience store in North Little Rock two weeks after Wise was killed.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson said his office was pleased with the agreement in part because they do not believe Fitzpatrick actually pulled the trigger. Evidence at trial was to include a letter Fitzpatrick wrote to a friend admitting to being the lookout, Johnson said.
The letter, which was linked to Fitzpatrick definitively through DNA, included writing about the crime and showed "some remorse that Mr. Wise was killed in front of the kids," Johnson said.
"We're satisfied with it," he said of the sentence. "We're happy with the job the North Little Rock Police Department did with their investigation ... and with all the facts and circumstances we had before us, we felt like this was a good plea deal."
Thank you for coming to the Web site of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. We're working to keep you informed with the latest breaking news.
This article was published today at 9:56 a.m. Updated today at 10:09 a.m.
Christmas Eve Massacre: Salvation Army major shot dead in front of 3 children
Pastors, police plead for tip on NLR killing ("Stop Snitchin'" foils murder detectives!)
Arraignment today for teen in Yule killing (XMAS Eve slaughter of Salvation Army Pastor)
Photo by Gavin Lesnick
Laquan Fitzpatrick is led into court Friday for a plea hearing.
He should serve 50 years but won’t. More likely about 20.
Violent felony in AR now = 75% of sentence on EACH charge.
The sentences will be served consecutively with Fitzpatrick eligible for parole in 35 years.
Somebody should go and try to convert Laquan. If he even said he’s sorry, that’s a start.
He was probably brought up in an evil environment and he needs Christians to bring him out of it. Look at the history of the Church and you will see many people who have been brought out of evil by the prayers and preaching of Christians they have injured.
This case deserved a death penalty.
Sadly, he is more likely to convert to Islam in prison.
Good thing Huckabee’s not running Arkansas any more. This guy would be out in five.
Ha! Good point!
While I agree he should have gotten the death penalty, the wife is happy with the sentence.
I’d like to wish the young thug a “Merry Shankmus”!
I saw that but I based my estimate of 20 years actually served on inevitable appeals.
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