A convicted killer from Columbia has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of a man on Grand Avenue in 2022.
939 the Eagle News covered Friday’s emotional sentencing hearing for 38-year-old Isaac Bryant, who was convicted in August of second degree murder and armed criminal action for the shooting death of Demetrius Ware. The victim had been shot in the head.
Boone County Circuit Judge Brouck Jacobs sentences Bryant to life in prison on the second degree murder conviction and ten years for ACA. Missouri state law calculates a life sentence at 30 years, so it’s essentially a 40-year prison sentence, with credit for three years for time served.
Ware’s family spoke at Friday’s emotional sentencing hearing about his murder and how it’s impacted them, saying Demetrius’ death has caused a void in their family. Ware’s sister, Kimberly Jordan, addressed the court, looking directly at Bryant. She told him he “blew my brother’s brains out” then paused briefly, before saying she prays that Issac Bryant finds Jesus and reads the Bible so Jesus can save him. Ware’s mother, Karen Jordan, also spoke to the court. She tells the court that Bryant settles disagreements with violence, saying her son was murdered on Mother’s Day 2022. Karen Jordan notes her son has two daughters, telling Bryant that his actions have caused a void in their family.
Judge Jacobs also denied defense attorney James Egan’s ten-page motion for a new trial. Counselor Egan alleged that there have been several errors by the trial court.