21-year-old gets life term in shooting

The 17-year-old son of a Las Vegas woman killed last year by a stray bullet persuaded a District Court judge Monday to sentence the gunman to life in prison.

"Sometimes I agree with second chances," said Christian Basurto, who held his dying mother in his arms after the March 2008 shooting. "My mom, being a victim, where was her second chance?"

Blanca Gonzalez, 39, was returning home from a trip to Wal-Mart with her two children when she was struck in the head by a bullet while sitting at a traffic signal near Nellis and Charleston boulevards. Authorities said Calvin Kirklin was intoxicated when he fired the weapon, sending a bullet through the passenger window of his car and into Gonzalez's vehicle.

Kirklin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

"It was a tragic accident. I never meant to hurt anyone," Kirklin, 21, said moments before he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years. "I wish I could take all this back, but I can't."

Kirklin's attorney, Joe Abood, also told District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez that the shooting was an accident. Abood said Kirklin was shocked when the gun went off as he grabbed it from a friend's hands.

"What he did was incredibly stupid," said Abood, who pushed for a 10- to 25-year sentence. "We need to dispel the notion that Calvin intended to kill this woman."

Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said that if there ever was a classic description of an innocent victim, Blanca Gonzalez was it. He said she was a soccer mom whose life centered around her children.

"She absolutely did nothing wrong," DiGiacomo said. "She was driving home from Wal-Mart."

Basurto said he heard a loud noise as the family was headed home.

He said he had "never been around a gunshot" and was uncertain what had happened. He said he looked at his mother, who fell into his lap.

"My mom was everything," Basurto said during an emotional plea to the judge. "She was my hero. She was my best friend."

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.