Hillary Clinton Voter Jailed for Shooting, Killing Friends over 2016 Election
John Kevin McVoy Jr. sentenced to 35 years in prison
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A Hillary Clinton voter has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for shooting two of his friends, one fatally, after they teased him about the 2016 presidential election.
John Kevin McVoy Jr., 40, of Corona, shot dead his garage bandmate's wife as she held her toddler son in her arms during a heated argument over Clinton's election loss.
McVoy reportedly pulled a gun and shot the married couple while they watched a speech by former President Barack Obama.
After being convicted of murder last month, McVoy received the maximum sentence this week.
The jury found McVoy not guilty of two counts of attempted murder and a count of child endangerment.
McVoy, who ran an online store selling musical instruments, was in a garage band called "Below the Faultline" with Victor Garcia and two others.
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During practice on January 10, 2017, the two got into a dispute over politics at Garcia’s home in North Long Beach, prosecutors said.
McVoy pulled a gun after he was teased for saying he had voted for Hillary Clinton, and Garcia snapped his fingers at him and ordered him to "get the [expletive]" out of his house, prosecutors said.
McVoy shot and wounded Garcia and a second shot fatally struck Garcia’s wife, Susan Garcia, 33, as she held their son, Rey, on her lap.
The boy was not hurt, according to reporting by the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
Garcia was shot in the head.
He told the court on Monday that he was in a coma for months, underwent two brain surgeries, and still has physical issues, including permanent loss of control of one foot.
"My son not only lost his mother but also part of his father," Victor Garcia told the court.
When given a chance to speak, McVoy said he did not intend to hurt anyone and apologized to the victim's family.
"As far as my remorse, I think about this every day," he said.
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At trial, McVoy’s attorney argued that he shot Garcia in self-defense after being threatened with a can opener, which he allegedly mistook for a knife.
Defense attorney Ninaz Saffari said that the shot that struck Susan Garcia was fired while McVoy was struggling for control of the gun with another bandmate.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura Laesekce ruled that McVoy was at fault for bringing the loaded gun and aiming it at Garcia.
"There’s no reason to be pointing a gun," she said.
"Mr. Garcia should not bear the weight of this crime."
