28-year-old Michael Sione Green has been sentenced to at least 82 years in prison for a 2013 murder of 23-year-old Melquiesha "Mel" Warren over a fender bender outside of a South of Market nightclub, according the San Francisco Chronicle.
The crime occurred on November 17th outside the LGBTQ club OMG when Warren and her friend, 21-year-old Danisha Bean left a party for Warren's wife. Here's what happened according to a statement from District Attorney George Gascon:
According to court records, on November 17th, 2013 at about 2 am, decedent Melquisha Warren joined Ms. Bean to walk across the street to a parking lot to retrieve Bean's vehicle following a night at Club OMG in San Francisco's Tenderloin Neighborhood. While backing up, Bean accidentally sideswiped another vehicle. The driver of that vehicle exited and opened Bean's door and began yelling. Ms. Warren exited the driver-side in an attempt to diffuse the situation and to tell the woman that they had insurance. Soon thereafter, Defendant Green shot Ms. Bean once who was still sitting in the driver's seat with her seatbelt on. Ms. Warren exclaimed, "No, wait." In response, the defendant shot Ms. Warren in the face. Ms. Warren then fell to the ground where she died. Green then continued to fire the gun at Ms. Bean about nine to fifteen times, causing bullets to penetrate her left side, thigh, rib, back, the top of her buttocks and front. After the shooting, Ms. Bean sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized for thirty-eight days. On May 16, 2014, SFPD's Homicide and NIU/TSU units took Green into custody in Miami Florida where he was hiding under a fake name, with a significantly altered appearance.
Last year, Green was found guilty on counts of murder, attempted murder, firing at a motor vehicle, assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm. Bean testified against him. The Bay Area Reporter quoted Assistant District Attorney Heather Trevisan who said, "Ms. Bean's bravery is to be commended. She witnessed a violent man shoot her childhood friend, and she was brave enough to take the stand and play a critical role in holding him accountable."
On Tuesday, Green was sentenced in San Francisco Superior Court to 82 years to life in prison.
"This was an extremely heinous crime that left one woman deceased and one severely injured. A woman who had her hands up was effectively murdered over a fender-bender. The only appropriate outcome for someone who takes life with this level of ease and callousness is to spend the rest of their days behind bars," District Attorney George Gascón told the Chronicle after the sentencing.
The Chron reports that Warren graduated from Cal State Sacramento in 2012 with a degree in criminal justice. She grew up in Oakland and was just six days away from her 24th birthday when she was murdered.
Related: San Mateo Man Convicted Of Murder In 2013 Double-Shooting Outside Gay SoMa Club