BECKLEY, W.Va. — A Raleigh County man was sentenced to 40-years prison Thursday following a murder conviction.
Devin Pratt, 25, of Cool Ridge, pleaded guilty in June to second degree murder in the Christmas Day 2020 shooting death of Ronnie “Trey” Barker.
Barker was walking away from an argument when he was shot.
Raleigh County Circuit Judge Robert Burnside told Pratt Thursday he knew no one in his home was in danger as a result of the argument but he fired the shots anyway.
“You shot in the direction of which you knew there were persons walking away,” Burnside said.
The evidence showed Barker was leaving the residence on Blackhawk Lane when Pratt came to the window and shot him in the back as he walked away, a distance of about 90 feet, prosecutors said.
Pratt told the court the shooting was not intentional.
“I didn’t intend for this to happen. I want to apologize to the Barker family and to my family,” Pratt said.
After the June plea, Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield said the prosecution had evidence to support a second degree murder conviction which doesn’t include premeditation.
Defense attorney Rusty Wooten asked Burnside Thursday to sentence Pratt to not more than 10 years if an alternative sentence was not an option. Burnside instead opted for a 40-year sentence. Pratt’s first opportunity for parole will come after 10 years.
WJLS Radio reporter Keith Thompson contributed to this story.