GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Jamarion Lawhorn, who was convicted of killing a nine-year-old boy on a Kentwood playground when he was only 12, has been sentenced.
The judge sentenced Lawhorn to detention at the Muskegon River Youth Home until a determination as to what type of sentence he should serve as an adult. Lawhorn is currently 13 years old and that determination would come in eight years when he turns 21 or sooner, if someone requests it. The sentence is considered a "blended sentence." Lawhorn could still then be sentenced to life in prison.
Connor Verkerke was killed in July of 2014. Lawhorn was convicted in September as an adult.
Connor's parents and brother all spoke before the court. Connor's father said that "he's a shell of what I once was." Connor's brother Kameron said, "Jamarion lied and killed my brother...I will miss him forever."
Lawhorn's attorney called the whole case a catastrophic result of abuse. A pastor who has been meeting with Jamarion sent a letter saying that sending Jamarion away for life in prison, wouldn't serve the community or Jamarion.
Jamarion also addressed the Verkerke family saying he was sorry for all the pain he had caused and that he doesn't know why he did it.
