A Brooklyn Center man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the murder of a good Samaritan who was trying to pull an unconscious person to safety on July 4 last year, the Hennepin County attorney's office announced Wednesday.
Joseph L. Smith, 25, was convicted Wednesday of second-degree unintentional murder in the death of 28-year-old Cabrie Young. Hennepin County District Judge Fred Karasov took Smith's juvenile record, two previous gun charges, a parole violation and apparent lack of regret into account during sentencing.
According to the criminal complaint:
Young attended a July 4th party last year at a home in the 3400 block of Dupont Avenue N. where several fights broke out. During the altercations, one man was knocked unconscious and Young tried to drag him to safety inside. Young was shot in the chest during the rescue attempt.
Smith pleaded guilty May 28 after testimony had ended in his trial.
Young's mother described her son as an aspiring tattoo artist. He left behind three children.
Liz Sawyer • 612-673-4648
