BEAUMONT, Texas — It's a day the family of Bradison Mims has been waiting for.
Mims, 29, was brutally killed on North Street in Beaumont on October 16, 2018.
On Thursday, jurors in Jefferson County found Herbert Collins, 40, guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison.
Nikki Jackson, Mims' aunt, spoke with 12News over the phone Thursday.
"I just have to stop and thank God," said Jackson.
She says the feeling of closure can now be felt knowing her nephew's killer will never be free again.
Beaumont Police found Mims' body near a sidewalk with a dozen gunshot wounds.
"No amount of time will ever bring my nephew back," said Jackson. "This is something he truly did not deserve."
Collins, who family says was a friend of Mims, was arrested two days after the shooting.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Collins guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison.
"Forgiving him, I'm not going to say was the easiest part, because we had to wait on this day to come," said Jackson. "As far as the life sentence, it did give us closure."
A month before Mims died, his only son was born.
Jackson read a statement from Mims' girlfriend.
"Bradison only held his son once. Bradison was excited to become a father for the first time and have a child of his own. Now my child has to grow up fatherless."
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Authorities say Collins used an AK-47 type rifle and shot at Mims more than 20 times.
According to witnesses, Mims' pleaded for his life but Collins stood over him and shot him twice in the head.
"We're just glad justice was served and we didn't have a case where nothing happened," said Jackson.
Collins also has several prior felony convictions for robbery and drug possession.
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