A California man convicted in the fatal shooting of William Carney was given an opportunity Thursday to apologize to the victim’s family. Instead, Damien Murphy expressed no remorse.
“I would apologize, but I’m not going to apologize for protecting my family,” Murphy, 32, told the court. “I’d do it a million times.”
Murphy was sentenced to 32 years in state prison for the October 2023 shooting of Carney, who was 39 at the time, in Fresno.
In September, Murphy pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter. The plea allowed him to avoid a first-degree murder conviction and receive a reduced sentence.
According to ABC 30, the judge reprimanded Murphy during Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
“I hope you change your mind and have some remorse for your actions, and don’t be disrespectful to the people you murdered and hurt their families,” the judge said.
Carney was found with a gunshot wound at about 10:30 p.m. in 2023 at a gas station near Belmont and Effie avenues. He received emergency medical treatment and underwent surgery at a medical center, but his injuries proved fatal.
Murphy was arrested roughly a month later. Detectives said the shooting followed a confrontation between Carney and Murphy’s family, although authorities have not publicly disclosed what sparked the dispute.
During the sentencing, Carney’s family described both their relief at the outcome and the lasting pain caused by his death.
“It was like all my dreams died at once,” Carney’s daughter, Essence, said. “My dad won’t ever see me on prom day. He can never walk me down the aisle on my wedding day and cry, seeing how much I’ve grown.”
Essence was one of Carney’s five children. Relatives said he was approaching his 40th birthday when he was killed.
Murphy reportedly showed no reaction as members of Carney’s family delivered 20 minutes of victim-impact statements.
“I hope every second of your 32 years, you think about William and his family and the damage you’ve caused,” the judge told him.
