Man sentenced to 15 years in prison in alcohol-fueled killing of girlfriend
A man who fatally shot his girlfriend on New Year’s Eve in 2011 was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
A jury on July 2 found David Brian Abbott, a 35-year-old white man, guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killing, according to prosecutors. A neighbor heard Abbott arguing with his girlfriend, Samantha Sproson, 38, in the early morning hours of Dec. 31.
The neighbor testified that he heard Abbott say, “I still have one in the chamber.” Abbott counted down twice before firing at Sproson, the neighbor testified. Sproson died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
When police arrived, Abbott tried to hide the gun and the bullet casing from the shooting. Abbott had a blood-alcohol content of around .30% at the time of the killing, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Ann Lee. (In California, someone with a blood-alcohol content of .08% or higher cannot legally drive a vehicle.)
Abbott was taken into custody by the Hermosa Beach Police Department the same day.
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