The following news item is printed in its entirety as it appeared in the New Haven Register,
January 20, 2007:

No comfort for victim's mother
January 20, 2007 - New Haven Register
By Randall Beach, Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — Eddie Washington’s mother wept in Superior Court Friday as the man originally charged in the shooting death of her son was sentenced to serve 10 years on weapons charges.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Pepper admitted the state didn’t have enough evidence to convict Vegas Valentine, 23, of first-degree manslaughter, a charge he initially faced. Pepper also said the shooting was accidental.

Vegas agreed to plead guilty to possession of a firearm, having a pistol without a permit and having a weapon in a motor vehicle.

According to police, Valentine and the 21-year-old Washington, who were friends, were riding in a car after attending a basketball game on Dec. 15, 2005 when they encountered a group of young men standing at the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Division Street.

Police said there was an exchange of gunfire and Washington was shot in the head, apparently by Valentine by mistake.

But defense attorney Glenn Conway said, "There was nothing to ever tie Vegas to it (the fatal bullet). I don’t think the shot came from inside the car."

In a brief statement before he was sentenced, Valentine said, "I just want to say I’m deeply sorry for your son’s death. I wasn’t the cause."

This didn’t heal the wounds still felt by Pamela Harris, Washington’s mother. She sat down to read the beginning of her statement, said, "My first born" and began to cry.

"He was my friend, he was my strength, he was my reason for living," she said.

Harris noted, "He has a two-year-old daughter that I have to tell and share stories about her father. He was a very hard-working kid, his daughter and family meant so much to him."

Harris said Washington was working two jobs at the time of his death and had been planning to go back to school to become an electrician. "But all of his dreams came to an end on Dec. 15, 2005 due to the senseless crime that was committed."

Harris also said, "I feel there should be tougher laws on anyone committing a crime with a weapon such as a gun. Guns kill, destroy and tear families apart."

"I don’t feel 10 years is enough to compensate for my heartache and pain," she added. "I cry every day of my life."

But Harris concluded by saying, "Ten, 20, 30 years, life (in prison), it doesn’t matter. My child is gone."

Before he imposed the sentence, Superior Court Judge Richard Damiani said, "The worst loss a person can have is to lose a child. If I gave him 100 years, it wouldn’t make you feel any better. The only thing that would help is if I could bring your child back to life -- but I can’t."

Damiani sentenced Valentine to five years, two of them mandatory, for possession of a weapon; five years, one of them mandatory, for carrying a pistol without a permit; and one year for having a weapon in a motor vehicle.

The first two counts will be served consecutively and the third count concurrently, for a 10-year total.