Gunman Gets 384 Years In Queens Shooting Spree
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- A widowed mother faced the monster who murdered her husband in a random, drug-induced drive-by shooting spree on Thursday.
"Your sentence should be a year for every tear your victims have shed because of your selfish and incomprehensible actions," Mary Upton said.
With puckered lips and a stone face, Matthew Coletta learned his fate Thursday, as he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, reports CBS 2's Kathryn Brown.
Coletta was convicted three weeks ago.
"We have been to hell and back," Upton said.
Four years after going on a murderous, cocaine-fueled shooting spree through Queens, Matthew Coletta showed no remorse, defiantly winking at the cameras as a judge sentenced him to more than 300 years in prison.
"I thought from the beginning, and I think now, that your actions were just the result of a disgruntled, disenchanted drug abuser who was out seeking attention," Queens Supreme Court Judge Michael Aloise said.
During the eight-hour rampage, Coletta fired more than 40 shots. He took aim at red vehicles, injuring several people and killing one of them.
Behind the wheel was Todd Upton, driving a brand-new red minivan loaded with his wife and daughter. A bullet struck him in the neck, and he died hours later.
"As his blood drained uncontrollably from his body, I asked, 'what kind of person does this? Who shoots at a family in a van?'" his wife said.
Upton's widow and children were in court Thursday, pleading with the judge for the maximum sentence.
"He often talked about his wish to return to Alaska with us kids," daughter Erin Upton said. "Because of you, he will never be able to do that."
In court, Coletta never apologized. Instead, all he said was, "I'm unequivocally not guilty of all these crimes."
Mary Upton said that Thursday, after four long years, justice was finally served.
"Each time you pulled the trigger, you made a conscious decision to kill someone," she said.
Several other victims spoke or issued statements during the sentencing, asking only that the courts show no mercy to Matthew Coletta.
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A FEW EAST VILLAGE DOG OWNERS ARE NOW CARRYING WEAPONS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES -- AND THEIR ANIMALS -- FROM OTHER DOGS.
THEY SAY THEY'VE BEEN ATTACKED BY OTHER OWNERS' PIT BULLS IN THE DOG RUN AT TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK.¤W3 119 ]] C2.5 G 0 [[
more dogs in park...can also use 1215 DOG RUN CONTROVERSY JM in XDcam, clips 1-11 if more b-roll needed
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS ASSIGNED OFFICERS TO MONITOR THE DOG RUN.
