FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Devon Graham, one of two men convicted of firearms offenses in the 2024 Valentine's Day shooting at the Gardens Mall, was sentenced Tuesday.
Graham, 29, was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Judge Aileen Cannon during a hearing held in Fort Pierce.
Investigators said Graham shot at Kamarcio Mitchell, 29, five times after Mitchell approached Graham with a gun inside the mall. Mitchell, who also pleaded guilty to felony drug and weapons charges, was hit at least once and treated at a local hospital.
"I'm glad that [Cannon] didn't go above that, our client is young, and he'll have a life ahead of him when this is done," Graham's attorney, Greg Morse, told WPTV reporter Kate Hussey, who was at the sentencing.
Both Morse and prosecutor John McMillan told Cannon they believed had Mitchell not approached Graham with a gun, Graham wouldn't have fired his weapon in the first place.
"He did not go with the intent to kill," McMillan told Cannon before touching on the severity of the charges. "Going to the mall armed is incredibly dangerous. This could have easily turned into innocent people getting harmed."
"Our client accepted that, he accepted responsibility," Morse told Hussey.
Graham read a letter in court saying he "made a huge mistake" and took full responsibility.
"I want to apologize to you, to the government, and to the Palm Beach Gardens Community," read Graham. "I want better and I want to do better. I made a huge mistake."
He was surrounded by family members in court, and some cried when he was sentenced. Family members declined to comment, but many of them wrote letters to Cannon in support of Graham, a father of five.
"I think the court was able to see that Mr. Graham doesn’t want to be where he is and does not want to come back before her or any court and saw the support of the family he has," said Morse.
Twelve years was agreed upon by both prosecution and defense, who took into account Graham's prior criminal history and the significance of the case.
"This situation, it had media attention when it happened," said Morse.
Cannon also gave Graham a three-year supervised period after his release and mandated he pay $400 in special assessment fees.
"Your conduct was highly dangerous," Cannon told Graham after agreeing to the 12-year sentence. " This could have ended up in an even worse posture. I trust you've come to understand the seriousness of your conduct and I am encouraged by your statements."
Morse said he does not have any plans to appeal the sentence at this time, and prosecutors declined to comment on Cannon's decision.
Mitchell's sentencing hearing is scheduled for later on in November. He could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
