David Michael Grimes, 33, was sentenced in Carson City District Court Tuesday to the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter in a Feb. 3, 2013 shooting outside a Washington Street home following a Super Bowl Sunday party.
At sentencing, the defense argued that Grimes acted in self-defense in the shooting death of James Lay. Assistant District Attorney Mark Krueger sought the maximum sentence and argued that Grimes version of events of self-defense did not match the evidence. Grimes brought a gun to the victims home while dropping off his son, the victim’s step-son. While at the home, Grimes and Lay began to fight, the fight ended, the two fought again outside the home where Grimes recklessly pulled his firearm and shot Lay. As a result, Krueger asked for the maximum sentence.
During sentencing, Judge Wilson stated that in sentencing a defendant the court looks to deter crime. In handing down the maximum sentence, he stated that the community must be deterred from bringing firearms to a child exchange between parents especially in a heated situation.
“The District Attorney’s Office through this prosecution, and the court through this sentence, sent a clear message that violence, particularly when children are involved, will not be tolerated. This office will continually bring to justice those who choose to promote violence,” said District Attorney Neil A. Rombardo in a released statement.
Carson City Sheriff’s Office arrested Grimes in the early morning hours on Feb. 4, 2013. Sheriff’s reports indicate that Lay was extremely intoxicated on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3 when Grimes arrived at Lay’s home to drop off his son, Lay’s step-son.
The home is located in the 900 block of West Washington Street. After a verbal and physical altercation inside the home, the situation calmed down and according to reports, temporarily ended. Eventually, as Grimes left the home, Grimes and Lay became entangled in another physical altercation in which Grimes pulled his firearm and shot Lay killing him at the scene.
Grimes then left the scene and was considered at large for a time being before turning himself into the Carson City Sheriff's Office after making arrangements by telephone to meet with investigators.