AKRON, Ohio — Dacarrei Kinard, the man who was found guilty on several charges, including voluntary manslaughter, for last year's shooting death of George "Geo" Jensen on I-76 in Norton, was sentenced to prison on Friday.
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Kathryn Michael sentenced Kinard to 15 to 17 1/2 years behind bars. Kinard will have parole for two to five years once released from prison.
"Your actions that day took you away from your family, but took Mr. Jensen away from his," Michael told Kinard as she pronounced her sentence. "And none of it makes any sense because it didn't have to happen."
The sentencing followed an emotional hearing in which Michael heard from members of both the Kinard and Jensen family.
Jensen's widow, Allison, took the podium and spoke directly to Kinard:
"I'm talking to you. I want this be a conversation. I don't think you're an animal, don't think you're a creature. So I would appreciate you looking at me when I'm trying to talk with you. Geo and I have been together almost half of my life. We met when I was 19 and he was 22, both of us lovers of music, art and bad movies. He was constantly working on cards and computers. His rational mathematical mind complimented my chaotic free spirit," Allison said of her nearly 17 years together with Geo. "We had an unconventional marriage prioritizing pets instead of kids and hobbies instead of vacations. It was just love language. He just always wanted to help."
Allison then acknowledged that there were mistakes made on both sides that led to a horrific ending.
"It is not up to me to make you a better person at cataloging all of my suffering. There's no reason for things to have ended the way that they did. Both of you acted impulsively. Both of you too proud to back down, both blinded by fear and anger. You should both be here to defend yourself, but he's not," she said passionately. "And I do not want you to rot in prison. I want you to grow. Meanwhile, I will spend the rest of my life waiting for Geo to not walk through a front door."
Kinard's mother, father, grandfather and father figure spoke to his character.
"I first apologize to the (Jensen) family because this is a tragedy for y'all family and it's affecting my family also," Tamara Kinard, Dacarrei's mom, said. "He's a great big brother. He pick his brother up from school, take him to the park, take him out to eat. He is a great dad, great dad. He has two daughters."
Then, she asked the judge for leniency.
"My heart breaks for him and Mr. Jensen's family. And again, I apologize, but I want my son home. I'm sorry, I know that might be a little selfish, but I ask that you be empathetic to our family and his children," Tamara said.
George Jensen, Sr. was angry over the loss of his son. He spoke directly to Kinard about the day Geo died.
"Drives onto the right shoulder of the interstate to pass an innocent driver in the slow lane, then cuts left in a surprise move to get him alongside another driver then puts five rounds into the passenger door with his left hand then slows to continue firing three more rounds into the rear of the car. Then speeds away. What kind of person does that?" George asked.
Dacarrei addressed the court and Jensen's family.
"I wish I could take back my actions. I'm very sorry to my family and the victim's family. Just wish everything was good ... handle myself in a better manner. I'm very apologetic and very remorseful. I'm sorry."
You can watch the entire sentencing hearing in the player below.
“My heart goes out to the family of George Jensen,” said Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich in a statement. “We are pleased Dacarrei Kinard will spend a significant amount of time in prison. Thank you to the hard-working assistant prosecutors who fought for justice for the Jensen family.”
Following the sentencing, emotions erupted in the courtroom between a member of the Jensen family and the Kinards.
On March 26, a Summit County jury announced that they found Kinard guilty on the following charges:
- Two counts of voluntary manslaughter,
- One count of felonious assault
- One count of discharging of a firearm on or near prohibited premises
However, the jurors did not find Kinard guilty of murder. Additionally, a charge of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle was dropped.
DETAILS OF THE CASE
The shooting happened on May 17, when there appeared to be a road rage incident between Jensen and another driver in a black 2018 or newer Chevy Camaro as the two traveled on I-76, according to the initial report from the Norton Police Department.
Police say that witnesses observed a black Camaro firing shots at the victim's vehicle before the single-vehicle crash. Court documents alleged that Kinrad was seen fleeing the location, exiting onto Barber Road and turning north. The Camaro then passed by a license plate reader and was seen entering onto I-76 West and back past the scene of the shooting.
Norton police recovered eight shell casings from the scene along I-76 East following the shooting. Police say further investigation linked the Norton incident with another shooting that happened in Columbus on April 13.
Kinard was arrested in Columbus two weeks after the I-76 shooting.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office previously said that the victim’s vehicle came to a stop after it struck the concrete median.
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