Man shot and killed stepfather and then recorded himself saying 'that's what he gets' as he disassembled the gun

A Pennsylvania antheral volition walk respective decades down bars for sidesplitting his stepfather amid an statement astir his sister's houseguest portion helium was himself visiting relatives successful New Jersey.

In January, Christian Smith, 28, was recovered blameworthy by a assemblage of his peers connected 1 number of murder successful the archetypal degree implicit the fatal October 2021 shooting of 43-year-old Dennis McKenzie, Jr.

This week, the suspect was sentenced by Gloucester County Superior Court Judge William Ziegler to 65 years successful prison. Smith volition beryllium eligible for parole aft serving astatine slightest 85% of his sentence.

The incidental took spot connected Oct. 9, 2021, astatine the family's location successful Woolwich – a tiny township located successful the Philadelphia metro area.

On the time successful question, the suspect and his stepfather were arguing "over violative comments Smith made astir the sexuality of McKenzie's girl and her friend," prosecutors said.

At the time, Smith was temporarily staying with his parent and stepfather and got upset astir his sister's LGBTQ houseguest.

During trial, First Assistant Prosecutor Dana Anton said that Smith "made it known to his stepfather that helium did not o.k. of that idiosyncratic coming into their house" because, arsenic Smith saw it, "their location was a location of God," according to a courtroom study by NJ.com.

"Smith's parent and sister attempted to diffuse the situation, with his parent putting herself betwixt the 2 men," prosecutors said successful the property merchandise – an involution to nary avail.

Eventually, Smith utilized an anti-LGBTQ slur. After that, the stepfather had had capable and helium threw a punch astatine Smith.

Smith past pulled a Glock 19 9 mm handgun from his waistband, "held it implicit his parent and changeable McKenzie" repeatedly, prosecutors said. The unfortunate was changeable erstwhile successful the look and 3 times successful the back.

The suspect past took the weapon isolated and recorded himself saying: "That's what helium gets."

During the trial, the defence claimed the shooting occurred during a conflict implicit a weapon – arguing respective shots were fired accidentally earlier Smith gained power of the limb and continued firing.

Prosecutors repeatedly dismissed this communicative – saying the defendant's relationship was inconsistent with the evidence.

"He took the weapon retired from down him, reached implicit her, and fired 3 times," Anton argued during a pretrial hearing. "You can't accidentally sprout idiosyncratic 3 times."

In the end, jurors agreed with the state.

"This condemnation reflects the seriousness of the defendant's convulsive actions and ensures helium volition beryllium held accountable for taking a life," Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns said successful a press release.