Man sentenced to life in prison for killing woman, her 8-year-old son

SANFORD, Fla. – A man who killed his girlfriend and her 8-year-old son, and wounded four others, with an AK-47 was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in Seminole County.

Allen Cashe, 32, shot six people in March 2017, killing Latina Herring and her son, Branden Christian.

Several of Herring's family members and friends were present during the sentencing hearing and shared their testimony in front of Cashe. 

"I want everyone to know who my sister was. A daughter, a niece and, most importantly, a mother," Herring's sister said. 

Cashe was facing the death penalty but agreed to enter a plea of no contest last month in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors said that will save the victim's surviving son from having to testify.

"He should've had the death penalty, that's what I think," Franca McQueen said. 

McQueen is the grandmother of Herring's surviving son, who was also shot during the rampage. 

Sanford police said they consider Cashe's rampage one of the most horrifying cases they have ever seen. 

Family members told News 6 his life sentence is not enough to take the pain away, nor does it bring justice to their loved ones who died too soon.

"He don't deserve no freedom. No life sentence or nothing. Give him the needle," Jason Brown said. 

Despite the strong emotion in the courtroom, Cashe asked the judge for possible parole. He was also asked to give comment but he decided not to speak.