Chicago man sentenced to 65 years for murdering man who refused to let him hold baby

Tanesha Goodwin and Elbert Brown, parents of Devonte Brown, addressed defendant Ray Dampier, 44, in court at Dampier's sentencing hearing Friday, where he was sentenced to 65 years in prison for shooting and killing Devonte Brown after the men got into a fight because Brown and his girlfriend refused to let Dampier hold their 6-week old baby.

"For him to take my son away, over a fight? My son did not deserve that, my grandkids did not deserve that," Tanesha Goodwin, mother of victim Devonte Brown. "I do not deserve that." 

Elbert Brown told Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones that he had not been a very present figure in Devonte's life until about five years ago. He said has realized how important the role of a father is in a child's life and he saw his son as "the best father in the world" which amplified his grief.

"I can never get over this pain," Elbert Brown said. "It is a pain on a whole other level."

A jury convicted Dampier, who represented himself at trial, of murder last month. Multiple eyewitnesses testified at trial that they saw Dampier fire five or six shots in Brown's direction on May 10, 2022 on the the 1700 block of West Fifth Avenue in Gary.

Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham recounted Dampier's extensive criminal history dating back to age 12 when he was found liable in juvenile court for a residential burglary. His second adjudication in juvenile court as a 15-year-old resulted in his incarceration at the Illinois Department of Corrections. He had been charged and convicted of various other violent crimes in Illinois and has done significant prison time, she said. 

"There is a clear disdain for the authority of the court, the authority of law enforcement," Lanham said. "[And] any authority in his life."

Dampier's case was previously being heard in Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota's courtroom. He demonstrated a lack of decorum before the Bokota, Lanham said, as he had frequent outbursts while Bokota spoke and occasionally refused to leave his cell for his court hearings. 

Dampier told the court he felt that prosecutors had "demonized the content of my character" and failed to introduce any of the positive things he has done for his community. He also rebuked the contents of his presentence investigation report, which is a comprehensive report of a defendant's personal and criminal background designed to help the judge while considering a sentence. 

Dampier was told to argue which circumstances he believed would warrant a lesser sentence for his crime. He failed to do so and asked for a new trial. He said he could not have a conversation about what sentence he should receive because the defense he presented at trial was ignored. 

"For me to indulge in conversation that I should be sentenced is crazy," Dampier said. "I ask that this court set this conviction aside and allow me to present my defense." 

Dampier filed the motion Friday and indicated he intends to appeal if the motion is not granted.