A Minnesota man who shot three women at a birthday party last July after they refused to sing "Happy Birthday" to his girlfriend has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Delonte Thomas, 20, was sentenced on Monday after being convicted of one count of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of attempted second-degree murder on June 16, according to KARE11.com.
Authorities said on July 9, 2014, Thomas shot three women at a birthday party in Minneapolis after attendees sang "Happy Birthday" to the guest of honor, but not to his date, who shared the same birthday.
The lack of interest in the girlfriend's birthday angered Thomas, who left the party in a huff and returned 20 minutes later with a semi-automatic handgun, according to the New York Daily News.
Thomas then fired the gun, focusing on one woman who objected to his song request by shooting her nine times, the paper reports.
Another woman was shot eight times, including once in the center of her chest, while a third woman was shot eight times in her legs, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
All three victims survived but required surgery for their injuries, according to KSTP.com.
Defense lawyers argued that Thomas should only serve 16 years behind bars, while Hennepin County attorney thought the accused should serve all the sentences consecutively, more than 40 years.
The judge split the difference with the 27-year sentence, according to a release by the Hennepin County District Attorney.
Thomas requested leniency at his sentencing hearing, according to the release.
“Everybody makes mistakes and everybody deserves a second chance,” Thomas told the court. “I’m the peacemaker. I’m the one to try my best to make it through a situation. I don’t recall having a gun. I don’t recall shooting [anyone]. I just hope to get some type of mercy here.”
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