TYLER, Texas — A teenager was sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this month to killing a 43-year-old man during a Tyler robbery in 2022.
Da'Kavion Christian, who was 14 at the time of the robbery, previously rejected a plea deal of 45 years in prison on Feb. 29. But on March 7, he decided to plead guilty to the Oct. 22, 2022 murder of Cornelius Tims, court officials said. He was then sentenced to 45 years.
The robbery happened in the 2400 block of North Broadway Ave. Tims was found on a sidewalk with gunshot wounds. Tims later died from his injuries, police said.
Tyler police detectives were given a directive to apprehend a teen suspect, who was later identified as Christian. He later turned himself in to law enforcement on a charge of capital murder.
According to the Texas Penal Code, a person can be charged with capital murder if they killed someone while committing another felony, such as a robbery.