On June 8, 2021, Siradus Sirmans was 16 years old and wanted to be a Jacksonville police officer, and D'Andre Jordan McCray was 15. Today Sirmans is still being mourned for his death that day at a Beaver Street park, and McCray is now sentenced to 35 years in prison.
McCray pleaded guilty on Feb. 29 and was sentenced Monday, a day before turning 18, court records show. He was arrested a couple of days after the shooting, escorted to the Sheriff's Office by his mother and grandmother, according to Times-Union archives. He was charged as an adult and is credited with 1,061 days of time served. He will be up for review after serving the 25-year minimum term, according to sentencing guidelines.
It was unclear at the time of the shooting whether the pair knew each other, but a witness said the victim was just playing basketball at the park. Several others said the suspect and three of his friends were all "hanging out" there before the shooting, according to the arrest warrant previously reported by the Times-Union . That's when the suspect's group got into it with Sirmans and others with him.
"The witnesses stated that words were exchanged and that the suspect spit on the victim," the warrant said. "... When the victim moved toward the suspect for spitting on him, the suspect pulled out a gun, shot the victim and fled the scene with the firearm." Sirmans was struck in the neck.
The suspect was described as a teen in a red jacket and distinctive hairstyle. Witnesses also identified him as "Dre" and knew he carried a firearm, the warrant said.
Sirmans' father wrote on a GoFundMe page that his son wanted to be a police officer once he graduated from Raines High School.
"Siradus was a role model in my eyes," Darren Sirmans wrote. "He loved to help people and was always trying to better himself to be able to help even more."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville teen wanted to be a cop, another shot him before he could and is sentenced
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