A man whose image was captured on light-rail surveillance video at the scene of a shooting at the Marconi station in 2008 has been sentenced to 77 years and 8 months to life in prison.
James Cooper, 20, was convicted by a Sacramento County jury in June of 11 felony charges, including attempted premeditated murder, assault with a deadly weapon, carjacking and robbery. He was sentenced today by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Helena Gweon.
In January 2008, Cooper, then 17 years old, carjacked and robbed an on-duty taxi driver using a sawed-off shotgun. Two days later, he carjacked and robbed a family of five using a sawed-off shotgun. Cooper took money and personal items before ordering the family to lie on the ground. He then threatened the family to prevent them from calling the police and drove away in their van, according to a Sacramento County District Attorney's Office news release.
In February 2008, Cooper was captured on Regional Transit surveillance video adjusting a sawed-off shotgun hidden underneath his sweatshirt. Minutes later Cooper exited the light-rail train and attempted to carjack two men in the parking lot using the same shotgun, officials said. When the driver of the car tried to drive away, Cooper shot at the car, hitting it twice, before the victims could get away
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