DAYTON — The man who killed two teens in a detached garage in 2019 was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison.
A Montgomery County jury previously found Victor Santana, 65, of Dayton, guilty of four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and one count of attempt to commit murder earlier this month. He was acquitted of one felonious assault charge.
Santana had argued the shooting was self-defense.
Santana will not be eligible for parole for at least 21 years.
The murder charges were in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Dayton residents Devin Henderson and Javier Harrison on Santana’s Conners Street property.
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“Finally. Justice was served and my family and I, we’re just – we’re relieved. We’ve came a long way waiting all this time,” said Carolann Harrison, Javier’s mother.
Henderson’s mother also said she was relieved as well.
“I’ve had sleepless nights and worried days. But right now, I’m very happy. It’s going to be a good Christmas for me and my family,” said Lisa Henderson, Devin’s mother.
Prosecutors argued for a sentence of 36 years to life ahead of the sentencing Monday.
“[Santana] made the conscious decision to leave his home and confront the three boys who were trespassing in what they thought was an abandoned garage,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. “At no point did the boys present any threat to this Defendant. Despite this, Defendant took matters into his own hands and giving the boys no chance of escape, opened fire.”
Defense lawyer Lucas Wilder during closing arguments said Santana shot the teens because he felt he was in danger.
“He didn’t hunt these young men, he didn’t sneak attack them,” Wilder said.
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