Eric Rivera Jr. sentenced to 57 years in prison for Sean Taylor murder
A Florida man who prosecutors say fired the fatal shot in the 2007 killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor has been sentenced to more than 57 years in prison.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy imposed the sentence Thursday on 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr., who was convicted in November of second-degree murder and armed burglary. Rivera had faced a maximum life sentence.
Rivera told police in a videotaped confession that he and other young men from the Fort Myers area broke into Taylor's Miami-area house hoping to steal cash the NFL player kept there. Taylor surprised them because he was home instead of with the Redskins and was shot after confronting them with a machete.
Rivera testified someone else fired the gun. Three others are awaiting trial in the case.