PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 22-year-old man will spend at least a decade in state prison after pleading guilty to shooting a teenage boy two years ago, leaving him partially paralyzed.
Shafir Hood says he lost his spark after he was gunned down by Djean Williams at the Dendy Recreation Center in North Philadelphia on April 19, 2023, while waiting to play basketball. The bullets tore through his lung, his spine and his kidneys, leaving him a paraplegic at age 15. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said there was no apparent motive.
Hood’s mother, Jasmine Tate, told the courtroom Tuesday the entire trajectory of his life is different, noting he doesn’t go outside, doesn’t sleep and lives a life of isolation.
Prosecutors said that while Hood has many physical injuries, there are many psychological impacts, noting he will spend his life constantly rebuilding and guarding his sense of self-esteem.
Williams agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault and related offenses. The DA’s office agreed not to pursue an attempted murder charge in the case.
After hearing the testimony, Judge Donna Woelpper sentenced Williams to 10 to 20 years, followed by five years of probation. She also sentenced him to probation to run concurrently for assaulting a prison guard.
Williams’ attorney says he never finished school, but now will pursue his GED in state prison as he tries to correct his life.