IRON COUNTY, Utah — Two men involved in a drive-by shooting that killed a 17-year-old girl earlier this year were sentenced Friday in an Iron County courtroom.
Ethan Andrew Galloway, the shooter, and Michael Hess-Witucki, the driver of the vehicle, received sentences of 15 years to life for the murder of KayLee Dutton on January 17, along with 5 years to life for firearms-related charges.
Both Galloway and Hess-Witucki had previously pleaded guilty to Dutton's death, in which two others were involved.
"I wish I could face the family right now while I say this. No amount of words I can say will ever change what happened or make things right. And I don't expect forgiveness ever," said Galloway at the sentencing.
Upon the reading of the sentence, family and friends of the victims – almost all in black “Fly High KayLee” shirts -- were in tears but withheld audible emotions.
Those emotions were expressed before Judge Anderson passed sentence when several family members testified.
“I think you both took the coward's way out to take a plea deal,” Steve Neil, the father of the teenager who survived the shooting, said, looking at both defendants.
“Ethan and Michael, I hope you lose sleep at night knowing that you took such an amazing young lady's life," added Karen Hunter, KayLee’s grandmother, as Galloway nodded his head in agreement.
KayLee's mother, Kimberlee, spoke last and looked directly at Galloway and Michael Hess-Witucki.
“I hope that guilt eats at you day after day, year after year. Because I live with what you did every second, and now you will too. I will never forgive you,” she said. “And I will never stop making sure the world knows what you did.”
Galloway’s lawyer, Matt Munson, said he hoped there was another message from their crime.
“What if there had been a conversation instead of a chase,” he said. “It’s always better to ask for help than turn to violence, and that’s the message.”
Parents share why 'Fly High' was perfect motto for Iron County teen killed in drive-by shooting:
But Judge Meb Anderson, seen wiping a tear at one point, had the last word.
“It’s troubling you can’t see how it could have been prevented,” Anderson told Galloway before passing sentence. “It was a callous disregard for human life.”
All four men were alleged to have pursued Dutton and another woman in her truck for several miles before pulling alongside and firing 12 rounds at the vehicle. Dutton lost control of her truck and crashed through a fence before coming to a stop northwest of the intersection in the area of Midvalley Road and 4300 West.
When police arrived at the scene, they began performing life-saving measures on Dutton before transporting her to the hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
An investigation quickly identified a truck that was involved in the shooting and used the information to locate the suspects at an Iron County apartment complex.
Another accomplice not in the vehicle, Aldric S. Felipe, previously pleaded guilty to obstruction charges and received probation. Matthew Sorber-Petrie, the alleged owner of the gun, pleaded not guilty and had a preliminary hearing last week.
