Man guilty of 2013 Halloween shooting in Regina sentenced to 12 years

A man who shot an 18-year-old six times following a 2013 Halloween party in Reginahas been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

On Thursday, a judge saidElijah Nonamewill serve seven more years in prisonwith credit for the time he's already spent in custody.

Nonamewas found guilty of manslaughter by a jury inJanuary, following a two-and-a-half week trial in the shooting death of Nolen Tanner.

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Police were called to a home in the 500 block of Montreal Street in the early morning ofNov. 1, 2013, after receiving reports of fighting at a Halloween house party that had spilled onto the street. Both Tanner andNonamehad been at the party.

Neighboursalso reported hearing gunshots from the scene.

'He was so excited to be a daddy'

Tanner left behind a three-week-old son and a girlfriend at the time of his death.

According to a victim impactstatement from the mother of Tanner's partner, the teen "believed in family, loyalty, caring, respect and most of all compassion.

"He was so excited to be a daddy and for the short while he was, he was the greatest," Lana Sheepskin said in a statement filed with the court.

The statement said the family has spent the last several years mourning Tanner's death. Sheepskin said Tanner's son, Liam, kissed his father's gravestone when it was placed on his grave.

"All we can do now is show him videos of his daddy singing and dancing to him. Liam knows that's his dad because he smiled and watches with full attention," Sheepskin's statementsaid.

"As much as we would love to go back to that night and change or stop that party we can't," the statement reads. "I try to tell my children we can't carry hatefor anyone, but pray for justice and show [that] Nolen was and will always be remembered by so many."

'Too many crimes involving firearms in Regina'

Prosecutor Kim Jones said the Crown was pleased with the sentence, which was brought forward as a joint recommendation with the defence.

He acknowledged that a 12-year sentence falls on the upper end of the scale for manslaughter, but said that was likely because firearms were involved.

"I know the family feels very strongly [that] this message simply has to go out that offenses of this nature won't be tolerated. There's far too many crimes involving firearms in Regina and in Saskatchewan these days.

"Bringing a sawed-off shotgun to a party is just going to be a disaster and it turned out here to be very tragic for everybody."