Font ResizeMatthew James Day claims to be remorseful about driving the car from which a passenger fired a fatal shot on Interstate 15 in Salt Lake City in January.
But 3rd District Judge L. A. Dever said Friday that if Day had "true remorse," he would give up the names of his two passengers -- one of whom killed 18-year-old Cesar Ramirez on Jan 9.
Dever sentenced the 24-year-old West Point man to prison for two to 20 years, the maximum possible term for manslaughter combined with firearm enhancements.
Day, who was initially charged with first-degree felony murder, has admitted driving with two passengers when one of them fired at the Jeep the victim was driving on I-15 near 1700 South about 5:30 p.m.
He also told police the shooting resulted from an earlier altercation with the occupants of the Jeep, whom Day believed were rival gang members.
But the victim's mother, Alma Ramirez, told the judge her son was not a gang member and had never been in trouble with the law.
"When [Day] killed my son, he also killed us," she said of her family.
Day did not address the court. But defense attorney Andrea Garland claimed he has been "in despair" since the shooting occurred.
Garland said Day has a "pleasant, almost wistful demeanor. He is not calloused."
As for Day refusing to reveal the other suspects, Garland said: "He is going to a section of the prison where he won't be protected."
After Ramirez was
The day after the shooting, Day was stopped by police in Davis County driving a black Nissan Maxima. Day -- who has tattoos on his face, neck and arms -- and his three passengers were wearing red clothing, and all four are associated with the Norteños gang, according to charging documents.
Subsequent to the shooting, Day admitted to several people he was driving the car and had participated in the shooting, charges state. He was arrested by police on Feb. 20 at a Salt Lake City motel.
