Inset: William Carney (Fresno Police Department/Facebook). Background: Damien Murphy in court for shooting and killing William Carney in 2023 (KFSN/YouTube).
A California man who shot and killed a father of five refused to apologize to the victim’s family at his sentencing, reportedly declaring “I’d do it a million times” while addressing the court.
“I would apologize, but I’m not going to apologize for protecting my family,” Damien Murphy told the court on Thursday, according to The Fresno Bee.
Murphy pleaded no contest in September to voluntary manslaughter in William Carney’s October 2023 killing in Central Fresno. He was sentenced to 32 years in state prison on Thursday and denied probation.
Murphy’s family allegedly had a previous run-in with 39-year-old Carney before he was shot around 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2023, at a gas station near Belmont Avenue and Abby Street, according to The Fresno Bee. Authorities have not publicly detailed what happened during that earlier encounter or explained how it led to the deadly confrontation.
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Police said gunfire detection software alerted them to three rounds fired near the gas station. When officers arrived, they found Carney — who was less than a month shy of his 40th birthday — with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body, according to a press release.
Police believe Carney was shot near the gas station and then walked back before collapsing, according to The Fresno Bee.
Carney’s five children and other relatives spoke at Murphy’s sentencing about the hole that his death has left in their lives.
“It was like all my dreams died at once,” Carney’s daughter said, according to local ABC affiliate KFSN. “My dad won’t ever see me on prom day. He can never walk me down the aisle on my wedding day and cry, seeing how much I’ve grown.”
One of Carney’s childhood friends reportedly told Murphy, “I can’t hate you because I know you’re suffering more than he is, and that brings me peace of mind.”
Murphy showed no reaction as everyone spoke, according to KFSN.
“I hope every second of your 32 years, you think about William and his family and the damage you’ve caused,” the judge said. “I hope you change your mind and have some remorse for your actions, and don’t be disrespectful to the people you murdered and hurt their families.”
The post ‘Not going to apologize’: Man shoots father of 5 who had run-in with his family at gas station, tells the dad’s loved ones ‘I’d do it a million times’ at sentencing first appeared on Law & Crime.
