GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay man will spend 20 years in prison for accidently killing his best friend last year.
19-year-old Bryant Ellis was convicted of shooting and killing Andrew Tohulka in court on Friday.
Ellis took time to take responsibility for his actions.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Ellis said of Tohulka. “He was a beautiful human being. He was loving, he was caring, he was generous, and he was respectful.”
Ellis admitted that the two were drinking and smoking marijuana while playing with a handgun. Ellis told police that he did not think the gun was loaded, when it went off, shooting Tohulka in the head.
“When I picked up that gun and I killed Andrew, I died that day too,” said Ellis.
While Ellis asked for forgiveness, Teresa Knoke, Tohulka’s mother, asked the judge for the maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
“My fear is that Mr. Ellis is not ready to rejoin society without conflicting significant pain on other families,” said Knoke.
The judge said his actions were concerning
“It wasn’t intentional,” said Judge Marc Hammer. “It was reckless, but it was so grossly reckless, the question is what’s the possibility or probability of the defendant engaging in similarly reckless behavior.”
Judge Hammer’s decision of 20 years in prison, went beyond the state’s recommendation of 17 years, and the defense’s request for 7 to 10 years. All three sides agreed on 15 years extended supervision.
