Two sentenced in shooting death at 2014 house party

Two men charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a house party in 2014 were sentenced Thursday in Sedgwick County District Court — including one who was given nearly a 17-year prison term.

Prosecutors say Dametrius Williams and Christopher Cooper were part of a group of men who arrived at a house in the 900 block of South Cypress early on June 21, 2014, and caused an argument that eventually led to the death of 20-year-old Juan “Gordo” Orona.

District Judge Stephen Ternes, who sentenced the pair, ordered Williams to serve 202 months in prison — about 17 years — for second-degree reckless murder and criminal discharge of a firearm. Cooper, who struck a plea deal that reduced his murder charge in exchange for testifying, was given 18 months of probation on a count of obstructing apprehension of prosecution.

Both men originally were charged with first-degree felony murder.

Orona was sitting in the driver’s seat of an SUV when he was struck in the head by gunfire that originated from a car parked outside the house. Police have said more than 100 people attended the party, including members of rival gangs.

Defense attorney Kenneth Clark argued Thursday that Williams was acting in self-defense when he fired because a passenger in the same SUV as Orona was acting aggressively. That passenger was not hurt.

Williams and Cooper pleaded guilty in September, according to district court records. Williams twice tried to withdraw his plea, including a last-minute attempt Thursday, but was denied.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Two sentenced in shooting death at 2014 house party."