One slap will cost a man his freedom for seven years in Gwinnett County.
Adrian Herrera accepted a guilty plea for voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday for slapping a man so hard that it killed him, authorities told Channel 2 Action News.
On Dec. 3, 2017, Herrera was at a child’s birthday party with Tomas Rodriguez and nearly 70 other people in the 100 block of Pipeline Road, AJC.com previously reported. The two got into a fight, and after Rodriguez called him a derogatory name, Herrera slapped him once in his throat.
RELATED: Cops: Man's slap killed Gwinnett father at child's birthday party
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
That single slap was hard enough to tear his vertebral artery, which is a major artery in the neck that provides blood to the brain, spinal cord and other vital organs, Gwinnett police previously said. When authorities arrived at the home about 3 a.m., Rodriguez had died.
MORE: Doctor: Gwinnett man dies from torn artery after single slap
In court before his sentencing, Herrera apologized to the victim’s family, saying he hoped they could forgive him, Channel 2 reported.
“I’m not going to justify myself,” he said. “I’m here to face whatever you want to throw at me.”
The Rodriguez family wore T-shirts to court that read “We want justice,” and his widow, Ana Arriaga, told the news station “I don’t feel anything,” after the sentencing.
Herrera was previously released from jail on a $38,700 bond, and he won’t have to report to prison until October, Channel 2 reported.
After Herrera’s time behind bars, he was sentenced to 13 years on probation.
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