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Howell gets 25 years
for 2008 shooting
Published Saturday, August 29
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
Eric Howell was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2008 shooting death of Tarvis Antonio Damron following an emotional hearing in Alcorn County Circuit Court Friday.
Howell, 29, pleaded guilty on Aug. 3 to one count of manslaughter enhanced by the use of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the October 2008 shooting of Damron following an altercation between the two men at E.S. Bishop Park.
Circuit Judge John Roberts sentenced Howell to 20 years in prison with five years suspended and 15 years to serve on the manslaughter charge, along with a mandatory 10 year additional sentence for the use of firearm enhancement. Howell was also sentenced to 10 years with the entire sentenced suspended on the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentences are to run consecutively and will also run consecutively to his sentence for violating his probation on a previous charge.
The 10 year enhancement on the manslaughter charge must be served day for day, is not subject to any form of reduction and cannot be suspended. Howell must also complete his GED while in prison, must serve five years post-release supervision after his release and pay a $1,000 fine and $5,750 in restitution to the Mississippi Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Manslaughter carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with the 10 year enhancement. The firearm possession charge could have brought a maximum of 10 years.
Howell apologized to Damron’s family for his role in the death and asked for a second chance.
“I’d like to apologize to the family for the situation that went on at the park that night,” he said.
He told the judge he feared for his life during the altercation.
“That’s not no excuse. I admit that I’m guilty. I’m just asking not to be thrown away,” he said.
Damron’s sister Elisha Damron Word, speaking on behalf of the family, described her brother as a loving individual who cared for and protected her and their other two siblings and asked the court to impose the maximum possible sentence.
She tearfully described the impact Damron’s death has had on the family, especially their mother and her brother’s children. She said Damron’s 11 year-old daughter continues to talk about her father and struggle with his loss.
“She’s broken now. A piece of her will always be missing,” she said. Word recalled how her mother struggled to make funeral arrangements and how she herself never had the chance to tell her brother good-bye.
“I never got to say good-bye. I had to come in and see my brother in a box,” she said.
Defense attorneys John White and Clay Nails both argued their client’s admission of his guilt and the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the shooting called for him to be given a second chance.
“We are asking you to give us an opportunity, to give Mr. Howell an opportunity to one day get out of prison, to resume his place in society as a productive citizen,” said Nails.
Assistant District Attorney Arch Bullard pointed out Howell’s previous conviction on aggravated assault involving a firearm and his history of violence while incarcerated and said he has already been given all the chances he deserves.
“Is the answer giving Eric Howell another opportunity to injure and shoot a third person,” asked Bullard. “At what point do we say ‘enough’?”
In handing down his sentence, Roberts said he believed Howell had already been given enough chances.
“You seemingly thumbed your nose at the chance you received under the law,” he said. “When you mix firearms and alcohol and violence we come to days like today.”
Roberts said he hopes Howell will learn from his experiences and come out of prison a productive member of society and that both families will gain closure from the conclusion of the proceedings.
