CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The clerk at a Kanawha City Foodland who was shot during a robbery in August 2014 says she has no sympathy for the five people involved in the crime.
“I have no pity on you because you had no pity on me,” said Shawna Sampson as she addressed her shooter John Proctor III, 19, directly in Kanawha County Circuit Court Thursday before he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
An emotional Proctor apologized for his actions telling Kanawha County Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit “I just really wish I could turn back time.”
Assistant Kanawha County prosecutor Maryclaire Akers said she had a hard time believing Proctor was truly sorry for what he had done.
“Today he’s crying because he’s caught and he’s facing sentencing and he’s facing the consequences of his act last summer. That’s why he’s crying,” Akers said.
During the Aug. 14, 2014 robbery, Sampson said Proctor shot her in the chest, missing her heart by half an inch, walked over her body, then continued to grab money out of the store’s safe and ran off.
“I could’ve died that night, but did you and your friends care? No,” she told Proctor. “I was standing their gasping for air and what did you do? You still got more money out of the safe.”
Out of the five defendants, Sampson knew Levi Lanham, 18, who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for first degree robbery.
“We ruined her life,” Lanham told the judge. “I truly do thank God every night that she is okay.”
“I don’t hate you,” Sampson said after telling the court Lanham and her son went to school together. “I love you, buddy. Just know that.”
Owner of the Kanawha City Foodland Rick Joseph told the judge Sampson and the people who work for him are “like family” and could not believe the five defendants terrorized his employees that night.
Telisa McCauley, 23, was in the getaway car along with Proctor’s sister Alisyn, 20, who drove to Florida, but were eventually captured. Proctor had previously told police he was convinced by McCauley in the shooting.
“She is a menace to society. She is a monster,” said Akers before McCauley was sentenced to 25 years on the same robbery charge.
Alisyn Proctor and Ricky Patterson, 19, who admitted to conspiracy to commit the robbery, were also sentenced Thursday to six months to two years at the Anthony Center for youth offenders.