9-year-old boy asks judge for maximum sentence for man who killed his father
A Hamilton County judge on Monday heard from a 9-year-old boy whose father was gunned down last year in Corryville.
In a letter, the 9-year-old said his father, Kevonne Howze, was his best friend and protector. The boy stood next to his mother as she read it.
The boy wrote that his father would never see him walk across a stage when he graduates from high school and college. His father also won't be there for football games, parent-teacher conferences, or when he wants to tell him about getting 100 percent on a spelling test.
"Every day I wake up, and my dad isn't here anymore," the boy said in the letter.
The letter ended by asking Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Branch to impose the maximum sentence possible − "so he doesn't hurt anyone else's dad."
Branch then sentenced 23-year-old Nolan Garrett to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 24 years. The mandatory sentence for murder is 15 years to life in prison. But Branch added nine additional years to the minimum for other charges he was convicted of as well as gun specifications.
Shooting in Taco Bell parking lot
After a bench trial in May, Branch found Garrett guilty of murder, felonious assault and being a felon in possession of a gun.
The shooting happened on April 29, 2023, in the parking lot of the Taco Bell on Highland Avenue. Branch said Garrett chased down Howze and shot him from behind as the 28-year-old ran.
"It was senseless. It was impulsive. It was heinous," Branch said.
She noted that after being found guilty, Garrett appeared to take pride in the conviction.
The incident happened while Garrett was on probation in Clermont County after pleading guilty to an assault charge in a 2019 shooting and stabbing.
Police: Father, son among 3 men killed in Corryville mass shooting
Clermont County case
Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Allison Oswall said the 2019 shooting happened because Garrett was a drug dealer, and his home was "robbed and ransacked by other drug dealers."
Oswall said Garrett responded by stabbing one person and shooting at others. No one was wounded by the gunfire.
Oswall said Garrett had a chance for reform after pleading guilty in Clermont County and being sentenced to probation.
Instead, Oswall said, Garrett "came to Hamilton County and murdered Kevonne Howze in broad daylight."
The circumstances surrounding the shooting were not described in court Monday. Branch said Howze's family had told her in letters submitted in advance of the sentencing that there was jealousy between Garrett and Howze "because of who Mr. Garrett had dated."
Garrett's mother and father both spoke during the sentencing. Garrett was described by his mother as kind and generous. She also said his selfless nature worked against him, at times.
Garrett's father, Robin Garrett, said his son was not the person who was convicted.
He said his son "always (stands) strong for people who have been dishonored."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nolan Garrett sentenced to 24 years to life in prison for murder
