BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A man named Johnathan Knight has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of 5-year-old Kason Guyton.
This conviction comes over seven years after the tragic incident, which occurred in February 2017 when Kason was shot during a drive-by shooting while riding in a car with his mother’s boyfriend.
His 7-year-old brother was also injured but survived.During a trial that lasted nearly a month, the prosecution presented extensive evidence, including testimonies from over 60 witnesses and nearly 100 pieces of evidence.
Knight was found guilty on 11 out of 12 charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder. He had previously pleaded no contest to the final charge related to gang participation.Knight was arrested in September 2019, following a lengthy investigation that began after the shooting.
The other suspect connected to the case, Jeremy King, who was believed to be the driver during the shooting, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to six years in prison. King is scheduled for sentencing on November 20, 2024.