BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- State troopers in Binghamton took a moment Thursday to honor one of their own. Trooper Christopher Skinner was fatally struck in 2014. On Thursday, his family finally got some closure.

"That is what we were going for. This is what we felt was just," said Sharyn Skinner, Trooper Skinner's mother.

Almond Upton, the 62-year-old man found guilty of intentionally running over Skinner, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. When giving his sentence, Judge Cawley told the room he believed this was nothing short of an assassination.

"This obviously closes the case out in this matter; however, it will never erase our memory of Chris Skinner and our support for his family," said Trooper James Barnes.

Upton spoke in court for the first time at his sentencing hearing, making a final plea to the judge. He told Judge Cawley his mental state was impaired beyond comprehension, and that to this day, he doesn't know what happened.

He broke down in tears, telling the judge he's not the person the state of New York has made him out to be.

"He's been so stoic through the whole thing and had absolutely no emotion whatsoever. So to just hear it at the end, I don't know it really didn't do anything for me," said Sharyn Skinner.

Skinner's mother also made an emotional statement at the hearing. She told the judge this tragedy has had a huge impact on her entire family.

"In an instant, everything was taken away," she said.

She also showed the judge a slideshow of photos, ranging from Skinner's childhood, through graduation to his adulthood.

"Nothing will bring my son back now, but ... It's just learning to regroup your life and put things together in another way and try to move on," she said. "But nothing can ... the hole in your heart remains there."

Officers say this case also serves as an important reminder for people in the community.

"There are laws in effect that they need to move over," said Barnes. "That's a requirement, not a courtesy. So I ask that they please abide by the law, when they see emergency lights, to move out of the way."