MADISON COUNTY, Ill. — One of two teenagers charged in the 2021 death of a Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville student was sentenced Wednesday.
Jacob Godoy, 19, pleaded guilty in March to first-degree murder in connection with the January 2021 shooting death of Moneer Damra. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Police said the shooting appeared to be a random act of violence. It happened on Jan. 14, 2021, on the ramp from Illinois Route 157 to Interstate 270 eastbound, according to Illinois State Police. Police said the suspects pulled their car up to another car and shot Damra.
Days later, Godoy and another man, Jimmy Ortiz, were charged with murder.
According to a press release from Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine's office, Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager asked Associate Judge Neil Schroeder to impose a sentence of 55 years in prison.
Godoy was 16 at the time of the killing, so the judge said opinions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court and Illinois Supreme Court regarding “de facto life sentences” for young offenders meant the sentencing range in this case was 20 to 40 years in prison.
In addition to the 29-year prison sentence, Godoy was also sentenced to three years of mandatory supervised release.
Ortiz, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, was also charged with first-degree murder. His case remains pending.
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