A Michigan man convicted of fatally shooting a nine-year-old boy , who witnessed him kill two other men , has been sentenced to life in prison without parole . Deonte Isaac Gray , 19 , was given the sentence on Monday after previously being found guilty on three counts of first-degree premeditated murder charges . He was convicted of the 2013 shootings involving Trashawn Macklin , a young boy who reportedly saw the killings of James Allen Jr. , 25 , and Akeem Easterling , 23 , at an apartment in Flint . Scroll down for video . Deonte Isaac Gray ( above during his sentencing on Monday ) , 19 , from Michigan convicted of fatally shooting a nine-year-old boy , who witnessed him kill two other men , has been sentenced to life in prison without parole . Gray was convicted of the shootings involving Trashawn Macklin ( right ) , a young boy who was present during the shootings of James Allen Jr. , 25 , and Akeem Easterling , 23 , at an apartment in Flint ( left , Macklin 's mother , Andrea Washington , holds a picture of him with 'RIP ' written across the top ) A fourth murder charge against Gray was dropped after a witness disappeared . During the sentencing , Macklin 's mother , Andrea Washington , had tears filled in her eyes as her son 's Freeman Elementary School teacher Laura Garrison stood beside her . Garrison told Gray his actions took away a young boy who was loved by everyone he ever touched , according to MLive . She said she always tried to warn Macklin to avoid and walk away from potentially hostile situations . The teacher , said : 'Unfortunately , he came across the same person we tried to protect him against . ' James Allen Jr. 's mother , Antoinette Moore , told Gray in an emotional statement that her son did not deserve to be taken away like that . James Allen Jr. 's mother , Antoinette Moore ( above during her emotional statement ) , said through sobs that her son did not deserve to be taken away like that . Gray was given the sentence on Monday for three counts of first-degree premeditated murder charges ( above Janette Allen , a sister of one of the victims , cries in court ) Moore said of her son : 'He was a good person . He was . ' The shootings were not Gray 's first run-ins with the law as he previously was convicted of felonious assault and second-degree home invasion at the age of 15 in 2010 . Gray was sent to live at the Shawono Center in Grayling , a 40-bedroom facility to treat male juveniles from age 12-21 accused of one or multiple felonies , before he was moved to another facility , Murack Lodge , according to court records . The incident leading to his recent sentencing unfolded on July 15 , when Gray reportedly got into an altercation with Easterling . A shoving quarrel between the two men was ended after Gray shot Easterling before he then went to the apartment to tell Allen about the fight . The shootings were not Gray 's first run-ins with the law as he previously was convicted of felonious assault and second-degree home invasion at the age of 15 in 2010 ( above family members cry during the sentencing ) However , when he noticed Allen reaching for a gun in the nightstand , he shot him too , according to police . As he was leaving the apartment , he realized Macklin had witnessed the shootings , and fired the gun at the boy . Tips from police eventually led to his arrest and he was found in a relative 's attic . Gray , during his sentencing , did not give an apology to the families of the victims , but did thank the court for its time .
Deonte Isaac Gray , 19 , was sentenced after being convicted on three counts of first-degree premeditated murder charges . He shot Trashawn Macklin after he realized boy saw shootings that occurred on July 15 , 2013 . Gray shot Akeem Easterling , 23 , following physical altercation then shot James Allen Jr. , 25 ; all three were found dead at apartment complex in Flint . Fourth murder charge against him was dropped after witness disappeared .