A California man broke into tears in court Friday as he was sentenced for his role in the deprived murder of a homeless grandmother earlier this year.
Ryan Hopkins, 19, received a suspended three–year prison term after serving six months behind bars since his May arrest.
Hopkins had pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the murder of 68-year-old Annette Pershal while she slept in front of a coffee shop.
He was behind the wheel of the car while his friend William Inness fired at “Granny Annie” with a pellet gun.
“I want to take a second to say I’m sorry to all you guys and the pain you have to go through. I’m sorry we’re all here today,” Hopkins told Pershal’s family in the courtroom.
Hopkins’ defense claimed he was trying to connect to the car’s Bluetooth when Innes suddenly uttered “Watch this” and started shooting at the woman.
They argued the teen did not know about Innes’ “disgusting” intentions but prosecutors said that the alleged killer texted a group of friends that he was going “hobo hunting”, including Hopkins.
“To find out someone had shot her with a pellet gun…you don’t even treat animals like that,” the victim’s daughter Brandy Nazworth said.
“She was a person, not just a thing to be used for target practice.”
