YAKIMA — Two men convicted of killing an aspiring rapper outside the Seasons Performance Hall last year were sentenced to 22 years in prison.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that 21-year-old Luis Rodriguez-Perez maintained his innocence during the sentencing Friday in Yakima County Superior Court.
Also sentenced was 19-year-old William Martinez.
A jury found both men guilty in April of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Da’Marius Morgan. He was shot on March 22, 2014 at a concert spotlighting local musicians.
Their lawyers argued for lighter sentences, but the prosecutor said a tougher sentence was warranted because Morgan was shot in a crowded street, putting bystanders at risk.
He said the crime also threatened the public’s peace of mind because the hall is a “beacon of arts and culture in this community,” where people should feel safe.
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