ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A Rochester man was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years to life in state prison for shooting and killing a man who was leaving a Thurston Road restaurant on Jan. 9, 2015.
Jerome Phillips was convicted in March on one count of murder 2nd in the death of Bradie Davis. Sherry McDonald was also convicted on the same charges.
Police and prosecutors say Phillips shot Davis eight times in the back as he left LJ's Restaurant early on the morning of Jan. 9, 2015. Davis managed to get his then-pregnant girlfriend to the safety of their car, where she called 911.
When allowed to speak at sentencing, Phillips went on a long rant that he was nowhere near the crime scene and the District Attorney's Office tricked the court with evidence that had nothing to do with him.
"At a sentencing, I don't want to say that it's unusual, but obviously there's a lot of emotions," said prosecutor Michael Bezer. "He faces a big sentence hanging over his head and with that, obviously, he has his views and opinions and we respectfully disagree."
"We're just glad that this is partially over. One person has been convicted of the brutal murder of my nephew, Bradie Davis. Jerome Phillips will be serving 25 years and hopefully to life in prison and we're just glad that this is partially over," said Tracy Davis, Bradie's aunt.
Prosecutors say the testimony of Davis' girlfriend, Gigi Pena, was critical to the conviction of Phillips and McDonald.
McDonald, set for sentencing on July 13, faces the same 25 years to life behind bars.