Shea Walsh / Getty ImagesUPDATE: Padron Thomas, the older brother of convicted murderer Hosea Thomas, pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2009, to manslaughter and other lesser charges in connection with Johnson's death. Padron was driving the vehicle from which Hosea fired the fatal bullets. He faces up to 10 years in prison and is currently serving 17 on an unrelated drug rap. His sentencing hearing is Nov. 17.
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The man who shot and killed T.I.'s childhood friend—with bullets the rapper believes were meant for him—will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
A Cincinnati judge sentenced Hosea Thomas, 35, who last month was convicted of murdering Philant Johnson in 2006, to 66 years to life in prison.
"[Thomas] gave Philant Johnson a death sentence—and his family, he gave them a death sentence as well,” said Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Ralph Winkler, adding that he would show Thomas as much mercy as he showed his victim.
Johnson, who also served as an assistant to T.I., was struck in the head when Thomas fired into their SUV after a postgig party turned violent.
"All of those rounds were fired for me, in my opinion," T.I. testified Nov. 21 during Thomas' trial. "Before I know it, shots rang out. At that time, we're calling everybody's name out to see if everybody was all right."