An Oxon Hill man was sentenced to 65 years Monday in the death of a 15-year-old boy who was targeted over a Valentine's Day gift intended for his girlfriend, prosecutors say.
Tayvon Williams received the maximum sentence in the murder of Suitland High School freshman Charles Michael Walker Jr., who was gunned down in February 2013.
Williams pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and related charges.
Prosecutors say Walker had sold some video games to buy a pair of boots for his girlfriend for Valentine's Day. They were in a shopping bag that Walker was carrying in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, on Feb. 18, 2013.
Authorities say that day, five men -- including then-21-year-old Williams -- were driving around in a white Ford van, searching for someone to rob. They saw Walker walking on 28th Avenue carrying the shopping bag and wearing headphones. Williams and another man got out of the van and grabbed him, and when Walker saw them, he tried to run away. He was then shot in the back.
The shoes were found at the crime scene, authorities said.
In court Monday, Williams apologized to the victim's mother, telling her that he is not what everybody says he is, and that he is not a bad person.
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Walker's mother, Natasha Massey, wiped away tears, saying the loss of her son has affected everyone, saying the loss still feels as though it just happened. She has to explain to her other sons why they shouldn't be bad, like those who killed their brother, Massey said.
Williams' attorney described him as having a low IQ, and said that while speaking, he comes across like a child of 10 or 11. The attorney also said he didn't have any positive male role models and didn't get the help he needed while growing up, instead falling prey to violence, drugs and life on the streets. He abused drugs including pot and sax, weed dipped in PCP.
The prosecutor said Williams shot and wounded someone else later that day and was also responsible for another shooting six months earlier, also non-fatal. He was also on probation from an assault charge in D.C. at the time of the shooting.
She said he is a danger to the community and asked the judge for the maximim sentence.
Before handing down the sentence, judge said Williams terrorized the community and was a menace.
Four other men were also arrested and pleaded guilty in the case: Derryck Green of Alexandria; Jermani Whitner of Temple Hills; Glenn Leach of Southeast D.C. and Kevin Smith of Temple Hills.
They were sentenced in August.
Police have no indication that the suspects knew the victim.
