The teenager accused of shooting nine people during last year's Black Expo Summer Celebration pleaded guilty Wednesday, ending a case that prompted citywide efforts to improve security at the event.
Shamus Patton, 18, was sentenced to eight years in prison, two years in community corrections programs and two years on probation. He admitted to 13 of the 14 charges against him, including battery, aggravated battery and criminal gang activity.
The shootings, which were thought to be gang-related, caught the community's attention in a way other shootings hadn't, said the Rev. Charles Harrison, president of the Ten Point Coalition, a group of ministers that tries to improve relations between police and black youths. People realized that gangs are willing to bring violence out of the neighborhoods and into Downtown, he said.
"I think we have to be vigilant and report what we see," Harrison said. "I think we can no longer be quiet about what's going on."
Patton fired into crowds at two Downtown locations on July 17, 2010, striking nine victims ages 10 to 19. Patton was thought to be a member of the Ratchetz Boyz street gang in the Martindale-Brightwood area, and some of his shots appeared to be directed at rival gang members.
No victims were in court for Patton's sentencing. Deputy Prosecutor Andrea Props played a video of the first round of shootings to show the impact of Patton's actions that night.
The video captured the barrage of bullets, followed by the piercing screams of the panicked crowd.
Before announcing Patton's sentence, Marion Superior Court Judge Carol Orbison called the shootings "absolutely horrendous."
Patton's family declined to comment after the sentencing.
Harrison hopes Patton's sentence will encourage others to keep the peace.
"I think we have to send a strong message to our young people in the community," he said, "that this kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated."
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