x
Breaking News
More () »

Four men sentenced in death of Jacksonville seven-year-old

Villanueva was killed on the Westside in August of 2018 just days before she was supposed to start first grade.

The four men arrested in connection with the death of seven-year-old Heidy Rivas-Villanueva received their sentences Friday evening. 

Abrion Price was sentenced to 30 years in prison for 2nd-degree murder, with a 10-year minimum sentence. Price has 30 days to appeal his sentence.

Trevonte Phoenix was sentenced as an adult to 30 years in prison for 2nd-degree murder, with a 20-year minimum sentence. Phoenix can petition for a review of his sentence after 15 years he also has 30 days to appeal his sentence.

Stanley Harris III was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Harris was sentenced to 20 years for a charge of 3rd-degree murder and 5 years for firing a weapon from a vehicle. The judge says those sentences will be served consecutively.

Edward Garcia time spent awaiting sentencing was credited as his sentence but he will not be released from jail. He is being sent to Tallahassee to face a burglary charge.

Phoneix, Price, and Harris were convicted of murder and Garcia was convicted as an accessory after the fact. 

Villanueva was killed on the Westside in August of 2018 just days before she was supposed to start first grade.  According to police, she died in a gang-related shooting.

Two of the men involved, Price and Phoenix, admitted to setting up a robbery disguised as a gun sale. 

According to family, Heidy was in the family car along with her sister and father eating ice cream when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet.

Anjelica Villanueva and Leonel Rivas, Heidy’s parents wrote letters saying how much they miss their little girl.

Villanueva wrote that the selfish, irresponsible act forced her to bury her 7-year-old.

“It hurts thinking I won’t see her thrive in school and attend award ceremonies. She was bright and smart mature for her age, always asking questions. I won’t see her graduate from college and be the first college graduate in our family; Heidy had dreams wanted to become a doctor and wanted to heal people,” Villanueva’s letter said.

Mark Khalil, assistant state attorney spoke after Friday's sentencing.

“This family was trying to do everything right. The father was trying to support his family, the last moment he had was watching her die. He’ll be haunted by those memories forever. I hope that at some point in time he finds peace,” Khalil said.

Heidy's family shared photos with First Coast News of funeral services in her native country of Honduras. 

"They all want justice," said Yoselin Guerra, a family friend. "They all want peace for them knowing that the person who took their daughter away have what they deserve... We all want justice for her because she didn't deserve to die. She didn't deserve to die the way she died."

RELATED: Remembering Heidy Villanueva | Family, friends hold memorial for 7-year-old girl killed in 103rd Street shootout

RELATED: Suspect in shooting death of Heidy Villanueva pleas guilty

Before You Leave, Check This Out