Detroit-Area Man Gets 17 Years in Porch Shooting of Renisha McBride: Race was hardly mentioned at all

A suburban Detroit man was sentenced Wednesday to at least 17 years in prison for killing an unarmed woman who appeared on his porch before dawn.

Theodore Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder in the Nov. 2 death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride. Before he was sentenced, the Dearborn Heights man apologized to McBride's family, saying he killed a woman who was "too young to leave this world."

"I will carry that guilt and sorrow forever," said Wafer, often pausing to control his emotions.

Wafer was convicted last month after a nine-day trial that centered on whether the 55-year-old had a reasonable and honest belief that he was in peril. He testified that he was awakened by pounding on his doors and shot McBride because he feared for his life. A jury rejected his claim of self-defense.

Prosecutors recommended at least 17 years in prison for Wafer, the low end of the guidelines, including two years for unlawful use of a gun. Defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter asked for as few as six years in prison.

Noting Wafer's age, Carpenter told Judge Dana Hathaway that anything more than 10 years in prison would be a "life sentence." The judge declined to go below the guidelines.

No one knows why McBride ended up at Wafer's home about 4:30 a.m., though prosecutors speculated she may have been seeking help. She had crashed her car into a parked car about a half-mile away in Detroit around 1 a.m. An autopsy found she was extremely drunk.

Wafer opened the front door and shot McBride in the face, firing through a screen door. He first suggested to police that it was an accident but later admitted to intentionally pulling the trigger.

The judge said McBride had made "some terrible choices" but that she didn't deserve to be killed.

Hathaway described the case as "one life gone and one life ruined."

The jury convicted Wafer of murder, manslaughter and a gun-related charge on Aug. 7. His maximum sentence is 32 years in prison, although he'll be eligible for parole after serving the minimum of 17.

Wafer is white and McBride was black, and some wondered in the aftermath of the shooting whether race was a factor, likening it to the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. But race was hardly mentioned at trial.

Renisha McBride's Killer Found Guilty of Murder: Theodore Wafer faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The Detroit man charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and weapons felony firearm for killing a 19-year-old woman on his porch was found guilty on all counts Thursday.

Theodore Wafer, 55, shot Renisha McBride on November 2, 2013, when she knocked on his doors after a car crash, where it was determined that she had been drinking.

McBride’s mother, Monica McBride, shook back and forth after the verdict was read, while some of her other family members wept. "She was a beautiful young lady, she had things going for her," McBride’s father, Walter Simmons, said. The prosecutors “had the facts, they had the evidence, they did their job, and they did it well. And we appreciate it."

The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for less than ten hours over two days after closing arguments were heard Wednesday. The prosecution argued that Wafer fired his shotgun because he was angry and looking for a confrontation. The defense contended that the homeowner feared for his life when he heard pounding on his doors in the middle of the night. McBride's family has maintained that the teen was looking for help after the crash. "It was senseless, all he had to do was call 911," Monica McBride said Thursday.

The trial drew comparisons to the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case because Wafer is white and McBride was black, but the subject of race was rarely broached in the courtroom. Wafer's defense lawyer said Wednesday that her client was far from a racist, and he didn't know the race of the person he shot. When asked if he thought race played a part, Simmons said, "I'm not going to say that, that could have been anybody's kid.”

Wafer will be sentenced on August 21. He faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.

AMY ADAMS GIVES UP HER FIRST CLASS SEAT ON FLIGHT TO A SOILDER!

As if Amy Adams wasn't lovable enough ... the Oscar-nominated actress sat in coach on a flight from Detroit Thursday ... because she gave up her first class seat to a soldier. 

Adams' grand gesture was done on the DL, but it happened to be witnessed by ESPN's Jemele Hill, who was seated a few rows in front of Adams. 

Hill spotted Adams eyeing the soldier as she got on the plane and later saying something to the flight attendant. Before long, Hill noticed Adams was gone ... and the soldier was in her place.

The "American Hustle" star ended up with us normal folk in coach, where a fan snapped the above photo with Adams and wrote, "Not the best picture of me but i just met Amy Adams on my flight to LAX, this is my claim to fame.

Legendary radio personality Casey Kasem dies at 82

Born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, the disc jockey began his career in nearby Flint before becoming an announcer on Armed Forces Radio Korea Network in 1952. Upon his return, he went on to work at radio stations in California, Ohio and New York before launching "American Top 40" in 1970. He hosted that show until 1988, and then a revived version from 1998 until 2004, when Ryan Seacrest took over. From 1988 until 1998, Kasem hosted a show called "Casey's Top 40."

Kasem, who was married twice and has four children, also had a colorful TV career, which included doing the voice for Shaggy on "Scooby-Doo" as well as voice-overs for many commercials. A devout vegan, he supported animal rights and environmental causes, as well as political organizations that spoke to him. Originally of Lebanese origin, Kasem felt it was important to improve Arab-Jewish relations.

In recent years, the radio personality's health declined and in 2013, his daughter Kerri said he was suffering from a form of dementia. Around that time, his three oldest children and brother launched a claim that his wife Jean was not letting them see their father. A court denied a petition his daughter Julie launched to take care of her father in October 2013, but just last month, Kerri was granted conservatorship amid a battle with Kasem's second wife, her stepmother, Jean.

“It’s a sad day for the broadcasting community and for radio listeners around the world,” said Ryan Seacrest, who took over "American Top 40" from Kasem in 2009, in a statement. “When I was a kid, I would listen to Casey Kasem’s AT40 show every weekend, and dream about someday becoming a radio DJ. So when decades later I took over his AT40 countdown show, it was a surreal moment. Casey had a distinctive friendly on-air voice, and he was just as affable and nice if you had the privilege to be in his company. He’ll be greatly missed by all of us.”