'It is not fair that he took his life away': Man sentenced after shot kills grandfather through wall

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - In an extremity to a tragic story, 44-year-old Kevin King was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months successful authorities situation by a Fresno County justice Friday morning. It's aft King was charged with aggregate felonies, including involuntary manslaughter, for his relation successful the decease of 51-year-old Victor Becerra.

On Jan. 2, 2023, King was cleaning an illegally owned weapon successful his flat successful Northwest Fresno, erstwhile the weapon went off. The slug traveled done a communal wall, shared with Becerra earlier it deed the 51-year-old successful the caput and killed him.

Becerra was holding his 11-month-old granddaughter, besides astatine location with his woman and 2 children, erstwhile the slug struck him.

"It is not just that helium took his beingness away," said Leticia Ramirez, Beccera's wife astatine the sentencing.

A unfortunate services advocate, speechmaking for Becerra's cousin, elaborate the symptom and traumatic acquisition felt that day.

"A loving gramps fatally wounded portion cradling his grandchild," work Victim Services Advocate Melinda Taylor. "The representation of Victor dropping his granddaughter arsenic helium was changeable is 1 that haunts america all."

King is simply a convicted felon with a agelong transgression history. That day, helium decided not to crook himself successful oregon telephone 911. Instead, helium fled the state. Authorities would aboriginal apprehension him successful Oklahoma successful June 2023.

Friday, helium issued an in-person apology to the family.

"I conscionable wanted to apologize to the household and fto you cognize that I americium precise atrocious for what has happened. I privation nary of this ever happened to y'all. You didn't merit this," said King.

Ramirez says she has forgiven him due to the fact that of her content successful god. However, she would spell connected to sermon the irreparable harm done to their family, finances, and intelligence wellness due to the fact that of his actions.

"My hubby near with each his dreams and hopes that helium had for his family. This greeting here, I simply inquire for justness to beryllium done," said Ramirez.

King has 968 days of clip credits. It means adjacent with is sentence, he'll service conscionable implicit 2 and a fractional years.