Williams sentenced for Appleton Park shooting | WTAQ News Discussion | 97.5 FM · 1360 AM

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Cashmere Williams was sentenced Friday in connection with a shooting at an Appleton park.

Judge Mark McGinnis sentenced Williams to 14 years in prison, followed by 16 years of extended supervision for the July 31 shooting in Erb Park.

Before being sentenced, Williams, 17, read a statement, becoming increasingly emotional.

He notably declared:

I feel bad for what I did. I also think that I am also a victim. I was beaten by a group of people bigger than me the day before my crime. I could have been killed.

But that's OK. I learned that life isn't fair. My choices are the reason I am punished worse than others. I'm okay with that and I accept that everything comes to me.

I'm sorry for my poor choices because there were a lot of kids at the park and they are probably traumatized now. From now on, I will do my best to take positive actions.

Williams was found guilty of one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide as part of a plea deal in May. At that hearing, he confessed to the shooting, saying he had taken a gun into the park after being jumped the day before by a group of people, including the possible victim of the shooting. When he saw the victim, he said his anger “overpowered him” and he shot the victim.

The victim was hit in the arm and abdomen, but survived.

In Wisconsin, children ages 10 to 16 facing most homicide-related charges are charged in adult court. McGinnis previously denied a defense request to have the case transferred to juvenile court.