Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Quincy Baker

Seventeen-year-old Quincy Baker was sentenced yesterday for the murder of Paul Schumann.

Schumann worked as a pizza delivery man for Zayna's Pizza.

Shortly after he was killed in December of 2007, his sister Amy Schinneller said, "He was probably one of the most generous guys you would ever meet. I mean, he hardly had anything to his name, but he gave it all away."

His ex-wife Laura Schumann described him the same way: "He would give the shirt off his back to someone walking down the street if he thought it would help the person."

His boss Younis Abdel-Hamid agreed: "Very few people didn't like him. He liked to help people and didn't expect anything in return."

To Quincy Baker, Schumann was nothing more than a target to be victimized. As a result of Baker's choices, he will be going to prison to serve a 27 year sentence.

From TMJ4:

A 17-year-old convicted of killing a pizza man heard the victim's sister ask for the maximum penalty Monday.

"He took away a brother, a wonderful person, a wonderful friend," Amy Schinneller said about her brother Paul Schumann.

Schumann was described as a giving, loving man during Tuesday's sentencing hearing for Quincy Baker in a Milwaukee County court. Schumann spent more than 15 years delivering pizza. He lost his life doing his job.

"I apologize to the family," Baker told the judge. "I didn't try to do it. It was a mistake."

Judge Jeffery Wagner sentenced Baker to 27 years in prison as requested by the prosecution. He called Baker dangerous and said crimes like this put fear into the people of Milwaukee.

"You're being sentenced in this felony murder to an individual who did nothing except trying to make a living," Wagner said during his sentencing remarks.

Baker and his friends ordered a pizza so they could rob the delivery man in December. Schumann had been robbed before. When Baker pulled a gun, Schumann tried to drive away. Baker pulled the trigger and a shot hit Schumann. Schumann's out-of-control Jeep slammed into a tree and burst into flames. A witness pulled the dying man from the fire.

Baker confessed to the murder. He appeared to be crying in court while he waited for his sentence Tuesday. His mother urged the judge to show sympathy.

"I am deeply hurt this man lost his life," said Sheila Baker.

Good.

Baker won't be ambushing anyone else. He won't be robbing anyone else. He won't be shooting anyone else. He won't be murdering anyone else. He'll be in prison for the next 27 years.

Was justice done?

Baker received the maximum penalty for his crime, so I guess justice was done.

Schumann's life was taken and his family and friends will have to live with their loss for the rest of their lives.


I don't know that 27 years is enough. I don't think it is.

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