BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Two men accused in the shooting of three-year-old Major Sutton were sentenced Wednesday.
Last year David Palms and Tyrone Johnson escaped Lerdo jail where they were being held in connection to the child's death. Both men were in court for sentencing with multiple charges including murder, burglary, and escaping jail while charged with a felony.
Johnson and Palms were accused of kicking in the door of 3-year-old Sutton's home and opening fire in 2018. The child was killed. His brother his pregnant mother Johniece Williams were wounded in the attack. Both survived.
According to court documents, Williams was living with a documented West Side Crip gang member who was also the father of the unborn child. The documents state that police suspect the suspects were trying to shoot him and/ or his associates but had left to go to the store at the time of the shooting.
Johnson was sentenced to 42 years and 8 months in prison, while Palms was sentenced to 27 years.
The District Attorney's office says Myeisha Dale was the getaway driver. She died in prison in March, 2021.
In April of 2021, both Palms and Johnson escaped from Lerdo jail. Palms was recaptured shortly after in Shafter. Johnson was on the run for two months before he was finally apprehended in Bakersfield.
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RELATED LERDO JAIL ESCAPE STORIES:
- 2 men charged in shooting death of 3-year-old escape Lerdo detention center, one still missing
- Lerdo escapees, accused child killers due in court Monday
- Lerdo Prison escapee appears in court Wednesday
- Escaped inmate Tyrone Johnson still missing, authorities now investigating jail
- Tyrone Johnson, on the run nearly two months, caught in Bakersfield
- UPDATE: One inmate escapee in custody, other man still at-large
- Former escaped inmate due in court, second missing inmate still being sought
