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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A 22-year-old man who pleaded guilty to shooting a Richmond, Virgina, police officer last year has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Officer William Turner was responding to a mental health call in January 2015 when Tamar Xavier Harris opened fire, seriously wounding Turner.
News outlets report that a judge sentenced Harris on Monday. He had pleaded guilty to aggravated malicious wounding and firearms charges in October.
A defense attorney had argued that Harris, who had previously shot himself in the face in one of multiple suicide attempts, was trying to attempt "suicide by cop." Richmond Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Hollomon said actually shooting Turner ran contrary to such an attempt.
Turner returned to work in September after undergoing several surgeries. He says he has accepted Harris' apology.
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