Aaron Waters said he will never forgive the man who shot and killed his 16-year-old daughter nearly four years ago in Arnold.
“That person stole my joy, he stole my sunny days. I don’t see forgiveness in me at all. Acceptance, I have to,” Waters said Thursday during a hearing for Cashaan “Dink” Williams.
At the hearing, Williams, 22, of Arnold, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and a weapons offense in connection with the Nov. 7, 2016, shooting death of Akira Waters on the steps of an Arnold home.
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears imposed maximum sentences against Williams totaling 6 to 12 years in prison. He was given credit for the more than three years he has served in jail since his arrest.
Prosecutors had originally charged Williams, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, with third-degree murder.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek, who described the killing as an “outrageously reckless act,” said evidentiary concerns made it difficult to prosecute the murder charge against Williams.
“The only eyewitness gave multiple, different statements,” Pacek said.
Police said Waters, then an 11th-grader at Kiski Area High School, was shot in the chest by Williams as both walked down steps to enter a home. A witness said Williams had a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun that discharged. Court records said the same witness told police Williams had been known to play with the weapon.
Sarah Blair, Waters’ mother, said her daughter aspired to be a cosmetologist and had recently attended modeling school when she was killed.
“Not only did he take Akira’s life, he took my life too. She was robbed. I was robbed. She was so smart and beautiful and she had big dreams,” Blair said.
Williams said he agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge to take responsibility for his actions.
“I am sorry,” Williams said as he turned towards Waters’ parents. “I don’t know what else to say right now. I have to live with this my entire life. She was my friend too. I can’t bring her back and I’m sorry. I’m not going to be the same person and I know what I did and I’m sorry.”
