Man who shot girlfriend gets 5 years in prison

1/23/2018
BY JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER

A Toledo man who shot his girlfriend after an argument was sent to prison Tuesday for five years.

William Price
William Price

William Price, 19, of the 3200 block of Glanzman Road pleaded guilty Dec. 13 in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to felonious assault with a firearm specification, endangering children, and bribery for wounding Cheyanne Garcia Aug. 13, then having his sister offer Miss Garcia money and custody of their child if she refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Price tearfully apologized, saying that he “made mistakes — mistakes I wish I could go back and change.”

Judge Myron Duhart said the case was tragic on multiple levels, not the least of which was the fact that one day Price's young daughter would ask her mother where her father was and why he shot her mother.

His behavior that day — loading a gun with Miss Garcia and their young daughter in the car, then firing a shot as Miss Garcia ran from the car — was “alarming,” the judge said.

“I do believe your actions were a combination of immaturity, emotion, anger, jealousy,” Judge Duhart said. “I don't know what truly was going on.”

The victim did not ask for a specific prison sentence but said she trusted the court to be fair.

“August 13th was a day I'll never forget, a day that changed my life when I was shot by William — my boyfriend of four years, my best friend, and most importantly the father of my child,” Miss Garcia said. “I could not believe this man who had told me he loved me could do something so violent and dangerous.”

Defense attorney Pete Rost said Price had never been in trouble, was “a better-than-average” student at Bowsher High School, and turned down a college scholarship when his girlfriend became pregnant so he could take care of his daughter.

Also Tuesday, Judge Duhart placed Jasmine Price, 22, on probation for two years. She pleaded guilty to obstructing official business, a misdemeanor, for contacting the victim after her brother asked her to.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.