Teen Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2023 Wisconsin Shooting That Killed One and Injured Others
A 16-year-old boy in Wisconsin has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for a 2023 shooting that killed one person and injured several others.
Parise Larry was sentenced on Friday by Judge Laura Lavey in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court. His convictions include first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tatyanna Zech. Authorities said Zech was struck when Larry and his friend, Antonio Johnston, who was 17 at the time, opened fire while targeting another teenager.
The sentencing hearing was briefly disrupted when individuals in the courtroom gallery began shouting and confronting one another as a microphone was passed around to allow people to speak about how the crime had affected them. Court officials paused the proceedings before order was restored and the hearing resumed.
When given the opportunity to speak, Larry addressed the court and the victim’s family, offering an apology. “I want to start off by saying I’m sorry to the victim’s family for causing the death of their family member,” he said. “I’m going to take responsibility for everything that’s in this case, and I just want to say sorry to my family and to their family. I hope everybody can forgive me.”
Judge Lavey described Larry’s convictions as “a plethora of some of the most serious charges anyone could be facing.” She emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that not only was a life lost, but multiple people were injured and others were placed at serious risk. “Multiple people were put at risk of losing their life or otherwise being seriously injured,” she said.
During sentencing arguments, the judge acknowledged Larry’s age, noting that he is very young. His defense attorney argued that Larry’s immaturity and lack of development contributed to his actions, saying that when gunfire erupted, he reacted impulsively rather than making a more measured decision.
Judge Lavey acknowledged the argument but pointed out that the jury had rejected claims of self-defense when they returned a guilty verdict. She stated that evidence presented during the trial showed Larry sought out a confrontation rather than acting purely in response to danger.
Ultimately, Judge Lavey sentenced Parise Larry to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killing of Tatyanna Zech, bringing a close to a case that has deeply affected the victims’ families and the wider community.
