BC-US--Football Player Killed,130
Defendants get life in prison in teen football hero's death
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One defendant received a life sentence plus 35 years and his two co-defendants got prison terms of over 100 years for their roles in the 2015 death of a Tennessee teen who shielded friends from gunfire. Christopher Drone Bassett got the longest sentence. Richard Gregory Williams received a 143-year sentence and Kipling Deshawn Colbert was sentenced to 109 years.
By STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — One defendant has received a life sentence and his two co-defendants have been given prison terms of more than 100 years each for their roles in the 2015 death of a teenage football player in Tennessee who shielded friends from gunfire.
Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steven Sword sentenced Christopher Drone Bassett to life plus 35 years on Friday. Bassett had faced an automatic life sentence required under Tennessee law after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Zaevion Dobson. Sword sentenced Richard Gregory Williams III to 143 years and Kipling Deshawn Colbert to 109 years.
A jury convicted Bassett of first-degree murder on Dec. 14 and found Williams and Colbert guilty of facilitating the shooting.
Dobson's act of bravery drew praise from then-President Barack Obama.
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