Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing 9-year-old girl in Chicago's Portage Park

We have just heard from the family of a nine-year-old killed back in 2023. The man who killed her was just sentenced. Yeah, he's going to spend 40 years in prison, no possibility for parole. Gabriela Primus joins us live from the courthouse with more from her family and the sentencing. Gabby, hearing from her family was just so emotional this morning. Good morning. Emotional in the courtroom, emotional as they offered us a press conference and stood bravely in front of all the cameras to share more of Sarabi's story. And you're right, it's been three years. This nine-year-old, Sarabi Medina, was killed outside of her Portage Park neighborhood in her own community, right? Just being a little girl. And that man responsible, like you said, is going to be facing 40 years in prison and no parole, 100% served. And before that sentence was handed down, guys, we heard emotional statements in the courtroom from her sister as well as her cousin, talking about what they've suffered since her loss. You should be seeing nine-year-old Sarabi Medina, known as Bebe. She was enjoying a summer evening outside her home back in August of 2023 when her life was cut short. Michael Goodman pleaded guilty to her murder last month, and today he was sentenced to those 40 years as part of a negotiated plea agreement. Now, you might remember this case. Prosecutors say that Sarabi was riding her scooter outside her home when Goodman, who lived across the street, approached her with a gun and shot her in the head. Her father tried to intervene, tackling Goodman as another shot went off. Inside the courtroom today, like I said, we heard from some family members, talked about the pain they endured while her sister described how their family has been torn apart. Here is her cousin just moments ago talking about the process of this court case and how she's feeling now that they're out of the courtroom today. No matter how small the court date, no matter how short. We were there, me and my uncle. Every court date I make sure he sees me And now, I don't know. You know, I've... That's been what's keeping me going, getting her justice, getting in contact. You know the Ms. Diaz has been the liaison for us, has been very good, always letting me know when court dates are, checking up. And now I just have to deal with what's next, because now all that's left is to grieve her. So we heard impact statements from the two family members, that cousin as well as his sister, but also Goodman addressed the courtroom and discussed his struggles with mental health, claiming that he does not remember that day that he shot Sarabi, claiming that he was on a high dose of ketamine that he purchased from the black market. Now Sarabi's family has asked the judge, obviously, in their statements to give Goodman, impose the harshest sentence possible. Today, she said 40 years, which would put him at 83 years old. Once he would potentially get out, then it would be three more years of parole, which would put him at 86 years old. So the family is happy that they know that he would be very old, if alive, when he got out of that prison. I'll send it back to you guys for now. All right, Gabby, just leaves you with chills. Thank you so much.