'These are all we have left,' sister of slain landlord says of photographs of her brother

The sister of a California man who was shot and killed by his tenant asked the man convicted in his slaying Monday not to apologize to her family.

“Do not speak of any regret,” Deborah Goldberg told Eric Pursley during his sentencing in Summit County Common Pleas Court. “There is nothing you can say or anyone else. Nothing can undo what you did.”

As she spoke, Goldberg held up photographs of her brother, Daniel Stein, with family and friends.

“These are all we have left,” Goldberg said sadly. “This is what you did.”

Pursley, 23, of Akron, was found guilty on July 21 of murder and a gun specification for fatally shooting Stein, his landlord, in October 2022.

More: 'I had to defend myself,' testifies Akron man convicted of murder in landlord's shooting

Judge Joy Malek Oldfield sentenced Pursley to life in prison with possible parole after 18 years.

Pursley, who claimed self-defense, plans to appeal.

Pursley was behind on his rent, prosecutors say

Pursley was arrested following the shooting death of Stein, 58, of California, at about 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at Pursley’s apartment in the 600 block of Sumner Street.

Prosecutors say Stein went to Pursley’s apartment to talk to him about being behind on his rent.

More: Akron man claims self-defense in shooting death of his landlord

Pursley claimed he was refusing to pay because of problems with the apartment, including an issue with mice.

Pursley testified that Stein was being aggressive toward him and his asked his girlfriend to get his gun from a gun safe. He said he loaded his gun in front of Stein, figuring this would get him to back off. Instead, he said, Stein charged at him, and reached for his throat.

Pursley said that’s when he fired a single shot that killed Stein. He then called police and told them he’d shot Stein in self-defense. When officers arrived, he had his hands in the air and showed them where the gun was on the ground.

Prosecutors said the evidence didn’t support Pursley’s self-defense claim.

Jurors find Pursley guilt of one type of murder and not another

Jurors found Pursley guilty of murder that means causing a person’s death as a the result of a felonious assault with a gun specification, which carries with it additional prison time, as well as two counts of felonious assault.

Jurors found Pursley not guilty of murder than involves purposely causing a person’s death.

The two types of murder have the same penalty.

Stein’s friends and family mourn his loss

Assistant Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said during Pursley’s sentencing that Stein, who owned several rental properties, had gone to check on his properties hundreds of times before and never had any issues.

“The only reason we are here today is because of the defendant’s choice and the defendant’s conduct,” Kolkovich said.

Family members of both Pursley and Stein sat in on the trial and attended the sentencing.

Sherman Couch, a long-time friend of Stein’s, said their families grew up together and Stein was the center of those connections.

“Moving forward, we have to find a way to heal and put scar tissue on that loss,” Couch said. “That process is ongoing.”

Goldberg read a statement from Robert Stein, the middle of Daniel’s three sons, who said he could write a book about the wonderful things his father did for his family, friends and people he didn’t know.

Robert Stein, who formerly lived in the house where his father was shot, recalled a Thanksgiving when they finished their dinner and his father suggested that they take a meal to a homeless man he’d seen begging on the side of the road. He said he went with his father, who got out and handed this man the meal.

“This is the man who was taken from us,” Robert Stein said. “This the man the world lost. The world needs more men like my dad.”

Goldberg said her brother was just doing his job, checking in with Pursley about the rent he owed. She said her brother wasn’t looking at Pursley when the shot was fired, and she wonders if Stein may have dropped his phone or the tape he brought to attach an eviction notice to Pursley’s door.

“You did not just murder my brother; you executed him,” she said. “We’ll never know. Now, you are a convicted murderer. You murdered our future with Daniel and future memories.”

Pursley regrets what happened, attorney says

Pat Summers, Pursley’s attorney, said Pursley had a gun to protect his family and obtained it legally. He said no one else was there that day besides Pursley and Stein to see what transpired between the two men.

“He did not want this to happen,” Summers said. “This was not a cold-blooded killing.”

Summers said he advised Pursley not to speak about the case because he plans to appeal. In light of Goldberg’s request, Summers said he thought it might be best if Pursley made no remarks.

“I know he’s remorseful and sorry for what happened,” Summers said.

Pursley declined to speak.

Oldfield told Pursley she doesn’t accept his explanation for what happened. She said if Pursley had time to ask his girlfriend to get his gun and load it, he had time to call 911 if he was feeling threatened.

“That’s the responsibility of a responsible gun owner — a last resort before taking someone’s life,” she said.

Oldfield said she is sad for both the Stein and Pursley families because each suffered a loss.

Pursley mouthed, “I love you,” to his family members in the courtroom.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Eric Pursley gets life in prison for shooting death of his landlord