Tulsa teenager sentenced to 35 years in shotgun shooting
BY BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer
Thursday, April 26, 2012
4/26/12 at 4:00 AM
A Tulsa teenager was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in prison for a shotgun shooting that left a man blind.
Erick Villalobos pleaded guilty previously to counts of shooting with an intent to kill and committing a felony with a firearm that had a defaced identification number.
Villalobos, who turned 16 this month, had no agreement with prosecutors regarding his punishment.
Tulsa County District Judge Tom Gillert sentenced him as an adult to 35 years in the Department of Corrections.
He must serve 85 percent of that sentence - nearly 30 years - before becoming eligible for parole or release.
After he completes his prison time, Villalobos must serve a five-year suspended sentence for the defaced gun identification offense.
Villalobos, who was age 15 at the time of the offense, shot Emanuel Lara, 27, in the face Oct. 7 in a parking lot at 51st Street and Lewis Avenue, police reported.
Lara had crossed paths with Villalobos while driving through a neighborhood, and a pickup occupied by Villalobos and another person followed Lara's vehicle into the parking lot, according to police.
Villalobos got out of the pickup, approached Lara and shot him, police reported.
Three children, ranging in age from 1 to 12, were with Lara at the time.
"As a result of the shotgun blast to the victim's face, both of his eyeballs had to be surgically removed and he is now permanently blind and disabled," a DOC report states.
Assistant District Attorney Nalani Ching said Villalobos "does not have one ounce of remorse in him."
Villalobos told a family member that he did not know the victim, a report states.
Original Print Headline: Tulsa teen sentenced to 35 years in shotgun shooting
Bill Braun 918-581-8455
bill.braun@tulsaworld.com
