BEAUMONT, Texas — A 25-year-old Kirbyville man on trial for the 2023 shooting death of a 21-year-old man has been sentenced after changing his plea to guilty.
Jadarian Ra'Joan Lee, of Kirbyville, was standing trial in a Jasper County courtroom this week on a manslaughter charge for the 2023 shooting death of Chase Butler, 21.
On Wednesday, the second day of testimony, he abruptly changed his plea to guilty and then was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Specifically, Lee got 16 years for the manslaughter charge and four years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentences will run consecutively.
On a Saturday evening in March 2023 Jasper County deputies were sent to a medical call on County Road 402 in Kirbyville and when they got there they found Butler suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a news release from the sheriff's office at the time.
Butler was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. He later died.
Lee shot Butler in the head with a handgun following a fight before fleeing the scene according to deputies
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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