INDIANAPOLIS — The man who stabbed and then shot another man to death inside of a south side Indianapolis Kroger was given a 55-year sentence on Monday.
The murder happened in 2017, but earlier this month, on the day Jason Cooper's trial was set to begin, he pleaded guilty to murder charges.
As part of the 39-year-old's plea agreement, charges of resisting law enforcement and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury were dropped.
Forty-three-year-old Carlos Castro was murdered inside the Kroger on the city's south side. Castro was stabbed three times and shot twice with his own gun after he refused to give his cellphone to Cooper, according to officials.
Cooper then lead police on a chase until he was eventually stopped after crashing into several vehicles at a dealership.
Through a translator, Yanira Castro, who was married to Carlos Castro for four years, gave a tearful testimony in the courtroom.
"My husband didn't deserve what happened to him. My husband was a good man. My husband never had a problem with anyone," Yanira said.
"He just went out and never came back. It's not fair," she continued. "It's painful, and we are suffering a lot."
Cooper spoke to the family, saying he has changed.
"The man who committed that crime is not who you see today," Cooper said.
"I believe every day that I've been incarcerated, I've gotten better," Cooper said. "A simple I'm sorry is not enough."
Cooper has already served 267 days of "good time," which will count towards his 55-year sentence.
MORE | Kroger shooting suspect had anger issues, according to ex-girlfriend | PC: Jason Cooper demanded Kroger murder victim's cellphone, then shot him with his own gun |
