WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A man convicted earlier this year of killing a 14-year-old Palm Beach Gardens boy in 2021 was sentenced to 35 years in prison with credit for time served.
Semmie Williams Jr., who investigators called a "homeless drifter," was convicted of second-degree murder in January for killing Ryan Rogers in a random stabbing attack along Central Boulevard.
WATCH BELOW: 'Homeless drifter' sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing 14-year-old boy
WPTV was in court as the sentence was read during an emotional hearing where friends remembered the teen, and his father reacted to the judge's decision.
Prosecutors had asked for life in prison.
"If he is free, the public is in danger," prosecutors said before the sentencing was read.
The defense asked for just over 21 years, pointing to Williams' history of mental illness and intellectual disability to be taken into consideration. Prosecutors argued that the sentence could one day put him back on the streets.
Ultimately, the judge delivered the sentence.
WATCH BELOW: Judge sentences Semmie Williams Jr.
"Thirty-five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections with credit for time served," the judge said.
Following the sentencing, Williams yelled to be moved to the general population as soon as possible. Rogers' father yelled back at him, marking the first time he had spoken publicly during the case.
"You'll be dead within a year," Rogers' father said.
Rogers' family did not wish to speak during the hearing, having the state address the court on their behalf.
"There's a hole in their heart from this," prosecutors said.
A friend of Rogers, Sienna Wise, took the stand on Wednesday to recount how Williams stole his life and took away any future memories they would have made.
"I lost one of my closest friends ... I miss Ryan so much," Wise said. "None of us knew those would be our final moments with him; none of us got to say goodbye."
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Semmie Williams Jr. convicted of murder
Wise cried and hugged Rogers' father after speaking.
"I promise Ryan's mom, dad and brother, no matter how much time passes and how old I become, I will always remember Ryan," Wise said.
In a rambling address to the court, Williams maintained his innocence.
"What I want to say is ... I didn't kill Ryan I was set up," Williams said.
Dennis Brincks, a man from Georgia, testified Wednesday that Williams nearly killed him at random while on a walk in 2013. Brincks recalled what police told him after the attack.
"You're lucky he didn't have a knife, or you'd be dead," Brincks said police told him.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox released the following statement after the sentencing:
"While the sentence delivers a measure of justice, no number of years can restore what was taken from Ryan’s family and our community — the life of a child full of promise," Cox said.
Both the family and attorneys declined to speak following the court proceedings.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Read more of WPTV's coverage of the case:
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