KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was during a birthday party at a South Plaza home when two men crashed the party, robbed the guests and started shooting.
Four people were shot and one died. Friday, one of the killers, 22-year-old Alonzo Ruff, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
During Ruff’s sentencing hearing, those injured and those close to fatal shooting victim Aaron Markarian delivered emotional testimony.
“Losing Aaron has been the hardest thing,” said Aaron’s brother, Stephen Deyo.
Markarian was 23 and a University of Missouri Kansas City student just a couple of weeks shy of graduating from the university’s conservatory of dance and music. His killer, Ruff, sat in court during his sentencing and listened to Markarian’s friends and family talk about how that day in March of 2013 changed their lives.
“One thing that hurts the most is I will never be able to make him proud ever again,” Deyo said.
Three other people were also shot, but survived, showing their injuries during the hearing.
“As you can see I have very significant nerve damage in my left hand. I have developed what is called an ulnar claw,” shooting victim Jessica Robertson said.
“I sat with a bullet in my stomach thinking I was about to die,” shooting victim Corey Trainor said. “There’s still this nagging feeling I the back of my head, why me? Why couldn’t Aaron have been saved?”
When it was his turn, Ruff apologized to those he hurt and showed remorse, which wasn’t enough for 16th Circuit Court Judge Robert Schieber.
“Being compliant and giving what was asked for and thinking you are done, and the nightmare is over, the terror is over, the horror is over, thinking, ‘phew, I have survived this.’ And you don’t,” Judge Schieber said.
Anthony Williams also admitted to being involved in these crimes. He’ll be sentenced January 16.