Kevin Grasha, Michigan.com

LANSING – Four men were sentenced Wednesday in connection with a shooting last year at an apartment complex that wounded a teenage girl.

The four initially faced assault with intent to murder charges in the Sept. 18, 2013 shooting, but pleaded to lesser charges of using a gun while committing a felony, firing a gun towards a building and conspiracy to fire a gun towards a building.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina handed down the sentences during separate hearings for each in Ingham County Circuit Court.

Three of the men —Willie James III, Damonte Johnson, and Javian Wright, all 19 — were sentenced to two years in prison for the felony gun charge and two to four years in prison for the firing a gun towards a building and conspiracy charges. The two-year sentence for the felony gun charge must be served first.

All three are Lansing residents, and according reports prepared in advance of their sentencings are connected to street gangs.

The other person sentenced, 19-year-old Demarquisse Salaam of Holt, will serve two years for the felony gun charge and then one to four years for the firing a gun towards a building and conspiracy charges. He pleaded no contest to the charges.

Salaam did not have a gun, his attorney Patrick Crowley said in court, and was standing away from the shooting when it happened. A report prepared in advance of his sentencing said Salaam was not involved in a gang.

The incident happened in the afternoon at an apartment complex on Mary Avenue. Multiple shots were fired from outside into an apartment, and an 18-year-old girl was struck in the thigh.

The shooting was in retaliation for one that happened the day before, when shots were fired into Johnson's home, according to statements made in court. The target was the teenage son of the woman whose apartment it was, according to previous court testimony.

All four defendants apologized to the victim and her family. Wright talked about regretting his decision to be involved. The victim, in fact, was a friend of his.

Aquilina responded: "Your regret doesn't help people sleep. Your regret doesn't make this community safer."

Kevin Grasha is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at kgrasha@lsj.com.