TUCSON, Ariz. — A man involved in a shootout on Amtrak’s Sunset Limited in 2021 that led to the death of his accomplice and a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said in a press release.
Devonte Okeith Mathis, 24, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced June 22 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He will also serve five years of supervised release followed completion of his sentence.
Michael Garbo, a 16-year veteran of the DEA, was killed as Mathis was being detained on Oct, 4, 2021, when an accomplice of Mathis opened fire, killing Garbo and wounding a second agent and a police officer [see “Man killed in shooting on Sunset Limited was 16-year DEA agent,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 6, 2021]. An Associated Press report identifies the second individual as 26-year-old , 26-year-old Darrion Taylor. After exchanging fire with officers, Taylor barricaded himself in the lower-level bathroom of the Superliner car and was later found dead inside.
In his plea bargain, Mathis said he knew Taylor had two handguns and was likely to use them.
Not enough of a sentence. Death involved, throw the book at em.
I thought in the committing of a crime, even if you are not the shooter of the gun, you will still be charged with murder if someone is killed.It seems he got a light sentence for what happened.
I was watching this on virtual railfan until they took it down. It seemed like a movie but it was very real. Looking back its a miracle no passengers were hurt or killed. 10 years dosent seem like enough.