Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man who shot and wounded four people outside of a Halloween party on the University of Southern California campus was sentenced Friday to 40 years to life in prison.
Brandon Spencer, 21, of Inglewood wept and banged his head on the table after he was sentenced in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
During the hearing, he begged the judge for leniency and a second chance.
"I'm sorry for what happened, but I can't spend the rest of my life in prison," a sobbing Spencer said. "I'm not just some gang-banger."
His attorney, John Blanchard, said Spencer had no criminal record, had a job and wanted to go to college. Blanchard said he planned to appeal.
Spencer was convicted in February of attempted murder for the 2012 shooting.
Prosecutors say he had been shot in the stomach by a rival gang member in 2011 and was seeking revenge when he opened fire on Oct. 31, 2012, outside of a party sponsored on campus by the Black Student Assembly.
Prosecutors say Spencer arrived at the party, spotted a rival gang member, left and returned with a gun.
He shot Geno Hall, 22, and three other people.
The two "had an ongoing feud over social media fueled by their gang rivalry," according to a statement from the county district attorney's office.
No one involved was a USC student but the shooting caused the university to beef up security and put restrictions on events held on the campus.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
