Man Sentenced For Queens Bus Shooting That Killed 14-Year-Old Girl

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- It's been more than three years since 24-year-old Kevin McClinton opened fire into a city bus, killing 14-year-old D'Aja Robinson.

Robinson's family, including her mother, was in a Queens courtroom Wednesday where a judge sentenced him to a minimum of 40 years to life in prison, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported.

When asked if she felt like justice has been served, mother Shadia Sands said, "For once yes. I do. It gives me a little bit of peace."

Before receiving his sentence, McClinton halfheartedly apologized to Robinson's family.

"I apologize for being involved with the individuals I was involved with," McClinton said.

"It was you that fired the automatic weapon into that bus. You want to apologize for that?" Judge Gregory Lasak asked.

"I won't apologize for that," he said.

McClinton denies firing the gun that shot Robinson in the head as she sat on a Q6 bus heading home after a sweet 16 party in South Jamaica.

Investigators said the shooting was gang-related and Robinson was an innocent victim.

"Who fires a gun into a city bus mostly filled with young girls? Feel like a tough guy doing it? How tough do you feel now?" Lasak said.

Robinson's grandparents said they don't believe McClinton is at all sorry for the pain he's caused.

"The whole time we were in court, he has no remorse. He would have this stoic face like he didn't care," grandmother Cheryl Sands said.

"He has 40 years to think about it, but his family still has him. We don't have my granddaughter. She's gone," the victim's grandfather said.

Robinson's family said Wednesday's sentencing is just one step toward justice.

A second suspect in the deadly shooting will be in court on Sept 27.