Enterprise man sentenced to life in security guard murder

WDHN Dothan
·1 min read
6

ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN) — An Enterprise man who was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of a security guard has been ordered to spend his life behind bars.

In late March, Emmanuel Key was found guilty of shooting 42-year-old Stevie Franklin in the back during a fight at the Daleville Lounge in late 2019. Franklin was a security guard at the lounge.

Key was initially charged with murder, but after a three-day trial, a jury of six men and six women found him guilty on a lesser charge of manslaughter.

During Key’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, Franklin’s sister and his partner sat before Judge Shannon Clark, speaking on behalf of their loved one and described how “kind” and “gentle” he was.

After the hearing, Judge Clark sentenced Key to life in prison.

Sources tell WDHN Key received the hefty sentence because he was a “habitual felony offender” and had been charged with three prior felonies.

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