Nineteen-year-old Shaheem Willis said Friday he would appeal and hoped to return to his family and be a good son. But Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Genece Brinkley said she was disappointed that Willis had expressed no remorse.
Police said the February 2009 shooting in West Philadelphia was believed to have been retaliation for another nonfatal shooting five days earlier.
Defense attorney Geoffrey Kilroy argued for a lesser sentence, saying Willis had no prior record and strong support from his family.
A jury in July convicted Willis of attempted murder, assault and gun charges in the shooting that nearly killed the youth, who lost part of one lung. His mother testified that the shooting had devastated the family.
