St. Paul, Minn. — A local court has sentenced E’Shaun Maurice Funches to 19 and a half years in prison for the unpremeditated murder of 30-year-old Alfonzo Avery Armstead. The sentencing followed a plea agreement for a daytime altercation that occurred outside of Sunrise Grocery and Tobacco last December.
During the sentencing, Funches, aged 24, acknowledged the role his emotions played in the incident, suggesting that the tragedy was the result of escalated pride between the two men. Despite this, the assistant Ramsey County attorney, Ryan Flynn, emphasized the deadly combination of impulsivity and firearm accessibility that led to the fatal shooting.
The court heard that Funches fled the scene immediately after attacking Armstead, who was unsuspectingly standing outside the store. Armstead sustained fatal injuries to his back, leg, and abdomen, and passed away shortly after at Regions Hospital.
Reflecting the community’s anguish, the victim’s siblings expressed their perpetual grief in a statement during the proceedings. They conveyed the irrevocable pain caused by the violent loss of their brother, highlighting the ongoing impact on their family.
Funches was apprehended shortly after the incident. Initially, he denied involvement, but evidence including surveillance footage and witness testimonies countered his claims. Authorities also connected him to the crime through clothing and a firearm discarded near the scene.
Moreover, just weeks before the murder, Funches had concluded a three-year probation period linked to a prior aggravated robbery conviction, painting a complex picture of his recent criminal history.
The court revisited various statements made by Funches, including a regretful acknowledgment of the harm inflicted on the victim’s family. His legal representation cited a lapse in judgment overwhelmed by personal pride as the underlying cause of the fatal event.
Adding to the emotional courtroom atmosphere, Funches, under heavy guard, gestured affectionately towards his family members present, though he refrained from publicly addressing the court directly.
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding gun violence and the profound legal and emotional consequences for families involved in such tragedies. The sentence imposed not only aims to serve justice but also to contribute to the broader discourse on preventing similar incidents through improved regulations and community awareness.