DETROIT – A Detroit man who was convicted of murder in the shooting death of a 17-year-old outside a store in 2010 has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Chauncey Owens was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing Je'rean Blake.
Owens initially entered a plea agreement to get a lesser sentence, provided he say who gave him the gun. But when he refused to give up a name, his plea was thrown out and he was ordered to trial.
Before Owens' sentencing, Blake's mother, Lyvonne Cargill, addressed the court.
Cargill said she felt as though she is missing a piece of her heart since her son's death. She called referred to Owens as a careless murderer and coward.
"It's hurt me so much. I love him so much and I miss him," she said. "I just want to know why."
Cargill, speaking to Owens, finished by saying, "I just pray for you. I'm going to pray for you every day."
Owen's co-defendant, Charles Jones, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the case.
Prosecutors argued that Jones gave Owens the gun used to kill Blake. Although the jury found Jones guilty of second-degree murder, it acquitted him of two firearms charges.
Read: 2 men convicted in shooting death of Detroit teen
Police raided Jones' home as part of the murder investigation and Jones' daughter, Aiyana, was shot and killed by a police officer's gun.
The officer, Joseph Weekley, says he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyana's grandmother grabbed his gun. The grandmother has denied any interference.