Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Texas for SHOOTING FRIEND 13 TIMES DURING SLEEPOVER

At a party, a 21-year-old man in Texas killed his 17-year-old friend by shooting him several times in the back as he was getting ready for bed. He will spend many years in prison. Authorities say that on Friday, Harris County District Court Judge Josh Hill sentenced James Michael Sotelo to 40 years in a state prison for killing Corey Thompson.

Following a six-day hearing, Sotelo was found guilty of one count of murder eight months ago. Then, Sotelo chose to have Hill decide his punishment after presentence investigations were done. A person who has been found guilty in Harris County can choose whether the sentence is decided by the jury or the judge.

“This cold-blooded murder had no reason at all,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said after the punishment hearing. “We know this man is a danger to the community.” “He kept breaking the law after being released on bond for murder and was arrested again for carrying a gun.”

Thompson spent the night at the Sotelo family home on the evening of March 20, 2021.

He picked up a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and fired at Thompson “at least 13 times as his friend was trying to go to bed about 3 a.m.,” officials said in a news release. Sotelo was 18 years old at the time and had dropped out of high school.

The house was visited by emergency medical staff and officers from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The review found that Sotelo hit Thompson 11 times in the back.

At least one shot missed Thompson and hit Sotelo’s brother in the face while he was sleeping through the wall of his bedroom. Even though Sotelo’s brother lived through the shooting, he was charged with and found guilty of another count of deadly behavior.

Hill gave Sotelo an extra two years in prison on the charge of deadly behavior, to run along with his 40-year sentence, which means at the same time.

Police said they wanted an even harsher term because the killing was so cruel and cold-blooded.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Tucker, who led the prosecution, said in a statement, “According to the defendant, he wasn’t drunk or high, which makes pulling the trigger on purpose 13 times that much worse.” “We asked the judge for at least 50 years because this defendant doesn’t care about what he did, doesn’t feel bad about hurting the victim, and there were no better options.”

A story from Houston, Texas Fox affiliate KRIV says that Sotelo defended himself in court by saying that he shot Thompson because the 17-year-old attacked him in his sleep.

“Of course that’s not true, because he was shot in the back over and over again. “Eleven of them,” April Wright, Thompson’s mother, told the station.

The family also said again that Sotelo never seemed to care that he killed his friend. His sister, Torrie Wright, told KRIV, “He’s never going to take responsibility for what he did.” “He didn’t care and won’t care.” He only worries about himself.

State law in Texas says that Sotelo must serve at least half of his term before he can get parole.