TAMPA, Fla. — The man convicted of shooting and killing 21-year-old Savannah Mathis learned his fate in court on Thursday.
Vakarvery Scott, now 22 years old, will spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes he committed on Dec. 2, 2021.
It was around 8 p.m. that evening that Savannah Mathis and her sister were driving near Julian B. Lane Park. Savannah was shot and died from her injuries. Her sister was also injured but survived.
Their mother, LaMaria Smith, said the girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“She lost her life from minding her business,” Smith said.
Later that month, Vakarvery Scott was arrested and ultimately charged with first-degree premeditated murder; shooting at, within or into a vehicle; and attempted first-degree murder.
Police said Scott shot at Savannah Mathis believing she was someone else.
On Thursday, a judge sentenced Scott to:
- life in prison without parole for premeditated first-degree murder;
- 16 months in prison for shooting at, within or into a vehicle and
- 20 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder.
All charges will be served concurrently.
La Maria Smith said that while she will feel the pain of losing her daughter for the rest of her life, she forgives Scott because Savannah would want her to.
“As a Christian, I have to forgive you because I don't want to walk around with that hate because it's only going to consume me,” Smith said. “I want you to know that I signed a life sentence as well when you took my daughter from me.”
The legacy of Savannah Mathis, who was an aspiring nurse, will live on through the work of her mother.
She has organized events to raise awareness of gun violence and helped console families who’ve lost their children, too. Smith is also in the process of writing a book honoring her daughter and helping others cope with loss.
“As her mother, I promise, as long as God put breath in my body, I will keep her name alive,” Smith said.
Tampa police also arrested another man, Alfonso Evans, in connection to Mathis' murder. His case is still pending, according to court records.