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Two Life Sentences in Death of Salina Teenager

Macio Palacio
Macio Palacio

Two people that had previously been convicted in the 2015 shooting death of a Salina teenager were both given life sentences for their roles in the crime Friday morning.

Judge Rene Young sentenced 23-year-old Macio Palacio to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years for first degree murder, 234 months for attempted first degree murder, 59 months for shooting at an occupied vehicle, and 6 months for conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. His sentences will be served concurrently. Palacio was also sentenced to $9,431.66 in restitution, some of which will be divided by some of the co-defendants. Palacio was earlier convicted as the shooter in the May 2015 death of 17-year-old Allie Saum.

Stephen Gentry
Stephen Gentry

For his role in the crime, 20-year-old Stephen Gentry was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for first degree murder, 253 months for attempted first degree murder, 59 months for shooting at an occupied vehicle, and 6 months for conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. His sentences will be served consecutively. Gentry was also sentenced to $9,851.27 in restitution, some of which will also be divided by some of the co-defendants. According to previous court testimony, Gentry was the mastermind of a plot to seek revenge for an earlier fight in which he was punched. He gathered a group of people together, and later misidentified a truck as one that had been involved in the fight, and instructed Palacio to fire shots at it.

Saum was struck and killed by the shots as the truck she was riding in with her boyfriend passed through the 500 block of Russell on the evening of May 6, 2015. She died early the next morning as a result of her injuries.

Three defendants in the case is still have cases pending in Saline County District Court.

20-year-old Daniel Sims testified against Palacio and Gentry in exchange for a reduction of his charges. He is scheduled to plead to charges that include involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. That hearing is scheduled for August.

18-year-old Andrew Woodring has already plead guilty to a felony 1st degree murder charge, but since has indicated that he wants to change that plea.

20-year-old Jerome Forbes has yet to stand trial for his role in the crime.

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