Photo: Facebook
A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for thefatal 2020 shooting of a 26-year-old nursein Tennessee.
Devaunte Hill, who wasconvicted of the second-degree murderof Caitlyn Kaufman in January, was sentenced at Davidson County Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Despite asking for leniency after admitting to the crime, Hill received the maximum sentence of 25 years,TheTennesseanreported.
During the trial, Hill testified that he had been using drugs while in the car with Cowan. As they were driving on the interstate, Kaufman — on her way to a night shift at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville — cut Cowan’s car off, reported ABC News.
“Cowan hit the brakes and it startled me,” Hill testified per the outlet. “I remember picking up the gun and firing the shots, but I couldn’t recall in that moment how many shots I’d fired.”
Six shots were fired, and just one killed Kaufman, added ABC News.
George Walker IV/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK
Kaufman had been working in the Intensive Care unit of St. Thomas since 2018 prior to her death, her Facebook page stated.
“She was adedicated and much lovedmember of our MICU team and a courageous health care hero who was graciously called to serve our patients with compassion and kindness,” the hospital’s spokesperson Michelle Heard said in a statement toTheTennesseanat the time.
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During an earlier hearing in March, Hill apologized to Kaufman’s family for his actions, the outlet reported.
“I know I made an irrational and dumb decision and I really would just like to apologize to Ms. Kaufman’s family for my stupid behavior,” he said. “I’m sorry my irrational decision resulted in the death of your daughter. She didn’t deserve to die.”
source: people.com
