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   From: noreply@mixmin.net   
      
   CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge Friday sentenced an 18-year-old Cedar Rapids man   
   to life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 20 years before being   
   eligible for parole in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Michael McCune   
   in 2023.   
      
   Dante Irvin, who pleaded to first-degree murder at age 15 as a youthful   
   offender, didn’t show any visible emotions when 6th Judicial District   
   Judge Ian Thornhill announced his sentence. Irvin’s family and friends   
   had tears and some cried when they heard the ruling.   
      
   After the hearing, McCune’s family, who were in the courtroom, told   
   Anastasia Basquin, Linn County Attorney’s Office chief victim liaison,   
   they are happy about the mandatory minimum of 20 years but wished it was   
   more.   
      
   However, they are relieved there is finally a resolution after three   
   years of hearings, pleas and sentencings for Irvin and three other teens   
   who targeted and ambushed McCune outside his mother’s residence at the   
   Tan Tara Apartments in northwest Cedar Rapids.   
      
   Following his plea three years ago, Irvin was sent to the State Training   
   School in Eldora. Upon turning 18, he was sent back to adult court for   
   sentencing.   
      
   Thornhill had discretion at sentencing. He could have given Irvin   
   probation, a prison term or discharged his sentencing.   
      
   Thornhill, during sentencing Friday, said “this is a tragedy for all   
   involved,” and while he acknowledged the progress Irvin made at the   
   training school that showed he has potential for rehabilitation, it   
   didn’t erase the fact that he killed McCune in a “heinous” crime.   
      
   The judge said he had considered all the required juvenile sentencing   
   factors, all the evidence and testimony, Irvin’s statement and McCune’s   
   family’s victim statements in making his decision.   
      
   The defense and prosecution presented evidence, testimony from   
   psychology experts, statements and arguments last Friday during a   
   four-hour hearing, but Thornhill said he needed more time to review all   
   the information before making a decision.   
      
   Assistant Linn County Attorney Ryan Decker recommended Irvin serve life   
   with parole and that he serve a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison.   
   Decker said this wasn’t an impulsive act. Irvin “set a trap and then   
   hunted him down.” Irvin only stopped firing the gun because he ran out   
   of bullets.   
      
   Mike Lahammer, Irvin’s lawyer, recommended Irvin be given a suspended   
   sentence and five years probation. He said Irvin didn’t minimize his   
   role in the crime and pleaded to first-degree murder — a higher penalty   
   than his coconspirators.   
      
   Testimony and evidence   
   During the hearing last week, Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Sarah   
   Lacina testified that based on surveillance video, evidence and   
   interviews with Irvin and the other teens involved in the shooting —   
   Tramontez Lockett, now 19, of Cedar Rapids, Devin Gardner, 20, of   
   Maquoketa, and Baynon Barry, 18, of Marion — they lured McCune out of   
   his mother’s residence at the Tan Tara Apartments, 1640 F Ave. NW in   
   Cedar Rapids, Feb. 18, 2023 and then ambushed him and fatally shot him.   
      
   Irvin and Barry fired multiple shots when McCune came into the parking   
   lot and started chasing him into one of the other buildings. Irvin was   
   ahead of Barry during the chase, and continued to follow McCune inside   
   an entryway, shooting him multiple times at close range, which killed   
   him.   
      
   Lacina said McCune was unarmed. Irvin’s motive was revenge because he   
   thought McCune shot one of Irvin’s friends but McCune was never arrested   
   or charged.   
      
   It was Irvin’s idea to kill McCune, Lacina said, based on interviews in   
   the case.   
      
   Investigator Thaddeus Paiser, with the department’s crime scene unit,   
   said Barry fired eight cartridges and Irvin fired one, which were found   
   in the parking lot. The five cartridges found in the entryway, including   
   those fired at close range, were from Irvin’s handgun. There were   
   “defects” on a carpet and the concrete in the entryway of the apartment,   
   where Michael was found, which showed evidence that the bullets were   
   fired while Michael was lying on the ground.   
      
   Irvin’s statement   
   Irvin, during the hearing last week, thanked his family for their   
      
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