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Shooter in drive-in murder sentenced to life

DECATUR, Ga. — A DeKalb County judge has sentenced the man found guilty of killing another at a drive-in movie theater to life in prison plus 15 years.

Last week, a jury found Quentric Williams guilty in the shooting death of tae kwon do world champion Mitt Lenix outside the Starlight Drive-In. Lenix approached Williams after his car broke down on Memorial Drive.

Channel 2's Erica Byfield said a very crowded courtroom was silent when the judge read the sentence.

The announcement came after several emotional hours of testimony.

"How has Quentric Williams affected my life? He took joy from my life and replaced it with hate, sadness and fear," Lenix's girlfriend Kristina Guede said. "It was a senseless act of violence and he should be punished to the utmost of the law."

"Mr. Quentric represents all that is evil in society today," Lenix's father, William said. "I personally forgive Quenetric Williams, but the forgiveness is not for Quentric, it's for me, it's so that I may heal."

Williams' cousin, Travis, spoke on his behalf during the sentencing.

"I just feel that him going to jail for the rest of his life and never getting out is just like killing him and that, in my opinion, is live revenge," Williams said.

During the trial, Williams admitted he shot Lenix, but said it was a warning shot and not meant to kill.

"When I took the stand I never intended to say I didn't kill him. What I intended to say is that I didn't kill him on purpose. Being on the stand and being nervous and the district attorney throwing questions at me... it made my brain lock up," Williams said.

William Lenix told Byfield he simply wanted  an apology.

"I honestly believe he does not deserve the opportunity to walk amongst fellow Americans and take their lives like he did our son," Lenix said.