SAN FRANCISCO — A judge on Tuesday sentenced an Antioch man to life in prison for a 2013 attack at San Francisco’s Gift Center & JewelryMart that killed two people and injured a third.
Barry White, Jr., 27, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole and an additional life term with the possibility of parole, as well as 266 additional years.
White was convicted on July 7 of two counts of murder, seven counts of attempted murder, possession of an assault weapon and six counts of assault with a firearm on a peace officer in connection with the July 12, 2013, attacks at Victoga Inc., a jewelry store in the JewelryMart building at 888 Brannan St.
The jury, which had watched detailed surveillance videos of much of the brutal murders, deliberated for only half a day before reaching a verdict.
Prosecutors said White, who was angry because he believed he had been shortchanged on an expensive piece of custom gold jewelry, waited until other customers had left the store before shooting and stabbing Lina Lim, 51, and storeowner Victor Hung, and slashing the throat of Khin Min, 35.
Lim and Min, both store employees, died at the scene, while Hung was badly injured but survived.
White then left the store and fired at responding officers outside before surrendering when he ran out of ammunition, according to prosecutors.
White’s defense attorney had argued in court that White, who was shot in the back of the head by Antioch police in 2009, suffered from brain damage or a mental disorder that affected his impulse control, reasoning and judgment. However, one juror told reporters after the trial that White’s
mental issues did not prevent jurors from finding he acted with premeditation
and intent.
“The fact that this man took two lives and attempted to take others over a piece of jewelry demonstrates a disturbing disregard for human life,” District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement. “No sentence can undo the damage this man did to the victims’ families, but San Franciscans are safer with this man behind bars for the rest of his life.”
