Man charged in 2022 Graceland Cemetery shooting sentenced to 10 years in prison

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A man was sentenced Tuesday, for his role in the 2022 Graceland Cemetery shooting in Racine.

Twenty-two-year-old Lamarion Blair was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role as the driver.

“No one would think that when they are paying their last respects to a family member that a carload of thugs and depraved individuals would enter the cemetery for the purpose of shooting other people,” said Judge Robert Repischak.

Friends and family members of Da'Shontay King were getting to say their final goodbyes after King was shot and killed by Racine police in mid-May of 2022. That’s when gunshots rang in the cemetery.

“The conduct that Mr. Blair was part of during the funeral posed an extreme amount of danger to the community and has a very significant impact on the community,” said the prosecuting attorney.

During the sentencing, one of the victims testified that she simply wanted to bury her brother in peace, but Lamarion Blair took that from her.

While family members of King asked for the maximum sentence, both the prosecution and judge on the case said Blair's testimony against the shooter helped him receive a lower sentence.

“This was an incident in which family and friends were at a cemetery, probably at the lowest point in their lives, burying a family member and friend,” said Judge Repischak.

In addition to 10 years in prison, Blair will also serve eight years of extended supervision.