This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The family of Jose Javier Fernandez had one question for the man who killed him in a fight over a woman: "Was it worth it?"
William Armstrong P-Graham, 21, was sentenced Friday to prison for up to life, after pleading guilty to Fernandez's murder.
Prosecutors have said P-Graham fired eight shots from a .380-caliber handgun at Fernandez because he believed, wrongly, that Fernandez was sleeping with P-Graham's girlfriend.
"They said it was over jealousy; after killing him, does that satisfy him?" asked Fernandez's aunt, Roselia Fernandez. "After what he did, does he think his girlfriend — or ex-girlfriend — is going to wait 15 to 20 years for him?"
On April 7, P-Graham went with two other men to Fernandez's home, near 200 North and 1550 West in Salt lake City. After P-Graham shot Fernandez, his friend Gaethan Laguerre also shot at Fernandez twice with a 9mm gun, according to charges.
Fernandez was struck eight times, according to prosecutors, and died at the scene.
Third District Judge Keith Kelly sentenced P-Graham to 15 years to life in prison, the statutory minimum for first-degree felony murder.
P-Graham pleaded guilty to the charge in September and, in exchange, charges of aggravated burglary, felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury and obstructing justice were dropped.
Laguerre, 26, was sentenced in October to five years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter with a gang enhancement, reduced from first-degree felony charges of murder; and aggravated burglary.
A third man, James Wellah Williams, 21, told police he also went to Fernandez's home, knowing what P-Graham and Laguerre planned to do, according to court documents. He said he helped by ushering children who were at Fernandez's house outside before the shooting.
Williams in September pleaded guilty to two second-degree felonies: manslaughter with a weapons enhancement, reduced from murder; and burglary, reduced from aggravated burglary. He was sentenced to prison for two to 20 years on the manslaughter count, and one to 15 years on the burglary count, which were ordered to run consecutively.
On Friday, P-Graham apologized to Fernandez's family.
"I know that no amount of words can explain how sorry I am," he said. "I know that what I did was evil. I just want them to know I'm sorry. It wasn't worth it."