By EMS1 Staff
SAN FRANCISCO — A man who fatally shot an off-duty EMT outside of a nightclub in 2014 was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
SF Bay News reported that Taaron Bragg was charged with the murder of EMT Camilo Senchyna-Beltran during an altercation outside of Bruno’s nightclub. He received the lowest possible three-year felony voluntary manslaughter sentence, as well as 10 years for carrying a firearm.
Senchyna-Beltran’s family and friends listened as Bragg spoke before they could read their victim impact statements.
“If I had the power to turn back time I would,” he said. “I’m not a criminal. I’m 25 years old and have never been convicted in my life. My brother died in my hands and I am still not over it at all. I’ve learned that this nightmare will never end. Please try to find it in your hearts to forgive me.”
Senchyna-Beltran, 26, had just completed his paramedic certification program and aspired to be a firefighter. He was celebrating the accomplishment the night he was killed.
“Most parents feel that their children are the center of their lives,” Senchyna-Beltran’s mother, Clare, said. “Camilo was my only child, he was more than the center of my life – he was my life. The day he was shot dead I also died … The impact of Camilo’s death on my life? Shattered is too mild a word. My life as I knew it is over. I no longer have my son. I will never have grandchildren. I never returned to my profession that I loved so well.”
She also read a letter Senchyna-Beltran had written the day he began his paramedic program.
“This next challenge will be the hardest to accomplish,” the letter read. “But, it will also be the most rewarding. The vision I have in a career is right there for me to grab and I’m glad you will be there to see it. Love, your son Camilo.”