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Plant City man sentenced to 15 years for shooting 17-year-old girl

Staff photo by KATE CALDWELL

"I'm accepting complete responsibility for this tragic accident and my direct actions causing this accident," Thomas Greico tells Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Manny Lopez.

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By JEFF PATTERSON | News Channel 8

Published: October 16, 2009

Updated: 10/16/2009 06:16 pm

A Plant City man was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for the shooting death of 17-year-old Brooke McDonald.

McDonald was killed on October 4, 2008 when Thomas Greico, 21, pointed a .44 caliber revolver at her head and pulled the trigger.

Greico previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but faced an emotional day of testimony from her family during a sentencing hearing Friday afternoon.

The shooting devastated McDonald's family.

"I would like the court to know that the defendant took my baby girl's life," said her father, Mitch McDonald.

Speaking to the judge through tears, McDonald said, "I try to go to work and do my job, but when I'm by myself I cry."

His wife, Barbara McDonald, told Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Manny Lopez how the loss of her daughter has changed their lives.

"I can not really put into words how Brooke's death has devastated this family. No one can know that feeling unless it's happened to them."

During the hearing, several witnesses to McDonald's death gave their own accounts of the shooting. Lauren Spaugh told the judge the group had gone to a car show in Tampa, returned to Plant City, and then went to a gas station to buy beer. Spaugh said Greico was showing off a gun and pointed it at McDonald's head.

"Brooke said, 'I'm not scared' and he pulled the trigger," Spaugh said.

After tearful appeals from his brother and father for leniency, Greico stood before the court and apologized to Brooke McDonald's family.

"I'm accepting complete responsibility for this tragic accident and my direct actions causing this accident," he said.

In sentencing Greico, Lopez said he believes he is sorry for his actions, but does not agree that the shooting was an accident.

"Somebody points a gun that they don't know is loaded at another human being's face and pulls the trigger," said Lopez. "I don't consider that an accident."

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