Gunman sentenced in slaying

A South Side man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for shooting a neighbor to death and wounding the neighbor’s wife a year ago during a dispute.

Randy L. Hunter, 29, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a gun specification and felonious assault for the Feb. 22, 2017, incident in the 900 block of Lilley Avenue.

Lonnie Lambert, 36, died in the shooting. His wife, Nichelle Lambert, 50, survived gunshot wounds in her right thigh and a thumb.

Prosecuting and defense attorneys recommended a sentencing range of 15 to 25 years as part of the plea agreement. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown said he chose the low end of that range because Hunter had no felony record and has provided helpful information to prosecutors in other cases.

Mrs. Lambert told the judge that her husband, whom she married in January 2016, became involved in an argument with Hunter, who lived across the street. She said her husband was walking across the street to confront Hunter and had just pulled off his shirt when Hunter pulled a gun and fired several shots.

Assistant Prosecutor Amanda Lowe said Lambert died of multiple gunshot wounds. Mrs. Lambert said she was shot when she tried to get in between the men to prevent what she thought would be a fistfight.

“I wanted to stop him from going over there,” she said.

The voluntary manslaughter plea means that Hunter committed the crime “while under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage” brought on by “serious provocation” from the victim.

Defense attorney Joseph Scott said Hunter cried when he saw surveillance video of the shooting.

Hunter apologized in court, growing tearful by the end of his statement.

“I would like to say I apologize for the altercation and taking someone from their family,” he said. “I’d like for them to really consider my apology.”