Two California men killed a man who disrespected them during a funeral reception. Now, they will never walk free again.
United States District Judge William Alsup sentenced Robert Manning, 31, and Jamare Coats, 29, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of a victim who disrespected them during a funeral reception. Coats was found guilty and convicted by a jury of committing a Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) murder, while Manning was convicted of aiding and abetting a VICAR murder.
On March 23, 2019, San Francisco Police Department responded to Fillmore Heritage Center on 1330 Fillmore Street after reports of a shootout that left one person murdered and four innocent bystanders injured, including an individual who was paralyzed from the waist down. According to KRON 4, Manning and Coats, both Mac Block street gang members, were at the Heritage Center for a funeral reception, where the victim openly brandished his weapon during the event and threatened the gang members.
Furious, both defendants and another associate ran toward their parked cars outside the premises to retrieve a semi-automatic handgun and a 9mm Glock before returning to the Heritage Center. Soon, both men and the associate surrounded the victim amidst peacemakers attempting to disengage the conflict. Nevertheless, the victim fired the first shot and exchanged several gunshots with the associate before being struck down. Then, Coats fatally shot the victim six more times.
During the victim impact statement, injured bystanders described how the incident left them and their families traumatized.
Both defendants were also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, reported CBS News. Hence, Alsup sentenced Manning and Coats to additional concurrent ten years for the firearm charges.
