Danta Wright is a 17-year-old convicted killer who made headlines for smiling and laughing during his sentencing hearing in July 2017. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery, felony firearm, and second-degree murder in the shooting death of Jordan Klee, an 18-year-old student from Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to Wikipedia profile, Wright was sentenced to 23-50 years in prison for his crime, but his attitude in court outraged the judge, the victim’s family, and the public.
Who is Danta Wright?
Danta was born on March 15, 2000, in Detroit, Michigan. He had a troubled childhood and was involved in several criminal activities since he was 13. He was arrested for carjacking, assault, and robbery in the past. He also suffered from emotional and mental issues, according to his lawyer.
Wright was one of the three suspects who planned to rob Jordan Klee on October 4, 2016. Wright, along with Delreno Gracey and Jermarius Ellison, lured Klee to a park in Ann Arbor under the pretext of buying marijuana from him. Wright then shot Klee in the back of the head, killing him instantly. The trio then fled the scene with Klee’s phone and wallet.
Wright was arrested on October 18, 2016, after the police traced Klee’s phone to him. He confessed to the murder and agreed to testify against his accomplices in exchange for a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery, felony firearm, and second-degree murder on June 8, 2017.
Why did he smile during his sentencing?
Wright’s sentencing hearing was held on July 24, 2017, at the Washtenaw County Court. The hearing was attended by Klee’s family, friends, and supporters, who read emotional impact statements to the court. They described Klee as a kind, loving, and talented young man who had a bright future ahead of him. They also expressed their grief, anger, and pain over losing him to a senseless act of violence.
Wright, however, showed no remorse or empathy for his victim or his family. He was seen smiling, laughing, and shaking his head as if he did not care about the consequences of his actions. He even told his family that he would be home soon and that he loved them.
Wright’s behavior infuriated the judge, David Swartz, who threatened to reject the plea deal and send Wright to trial for felony murder, which could result in a life sentence without parole. He said to Wright:
“I’ve been watching you sit there, smile and laugh and shake your head like this was no big deal. I’m very tempted to just say I’m not going to accept this sentence agreement. You will go to trial and if you’re convicted of felony murder you’ll go to prison for the rest of your life and that means you’ll die there.”
The judge also asked the prosecutors if they were sure they wanted to proceed with the plea deal, given Wright’s lack of remorse. The prosecutors said they did, because they wanted to spare Klee’s family from the trauma of a trial. Klee’s family also agreed to accept the plea deal, because they wanted to move on with their lives.
Wright’s lawyer, David Goldstein, apologized on behalf of his client and said that Wright’s smiling was not meant to be disrespectful. He said that Wright suffered from emotional issues and that some people display fear by smiling. He also said that Wright was sorry for what he did and that he hoped for forgiveness.
Footage shows Danta Wright sat in court smiling and smirking as Jordan Klee's mother shed tears for her son, who was shot and killed by Wright. He was later sentenced to 25-52 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/IcJfMlBjxO
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) February 6, 2024The judge, however, was not convinced by Wright’s apology and said that he did not believe that Wright was sorry or that he understood the gravity of his crime. He said to Wright:
“You took the life of another human being. You took the life of a son, a brother, a friend. You took the life of someone who meant something to a lot of people. And you did it for a few dollars and a cell phone. And you don’t seem to care.”
The judge then sentenced Wright to 23-50 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after 23 years. He also ordered Wright to pay $15,000 in restitution to Klee’s family and to have no contact with them.
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Danta Wright Wiki/Bio
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Danta Wright |
| Date of birth | May 15, 2000 |
| Place of birth | Ypsilanti, Michigan |
| Occupation | None |
| Date of death | Alive |
| Sentence | 23 to 50 years in prison |
| Victim | Jordan Klee |
| Date of murder | October 4, 2016 |
| Place of murder | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Cause of murder | Gunshot wound to the head |
| Co-defendants | Delreno Gracey and Jermarius Ellison |
What happened to his accomplices?
Wright’s accomplices, Delreno Gracey and Jermarius Ellison, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the murder. Gracey pleaded guilty to armed robbery and felony firearm on June 29, 2017. He was sentenced to 15-25 years in prison on September 11, 2017. Ellison pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm on July 13, 2017. He was sentenced to 25-50 years in prison on September 18, 2017.
Both Gracey and Ellison expressed regret and sorrow for their involvement in the murder. They also apologized to Klee’s family and asked for forgiveness. Unlike Wright, they did not smile or laugh during their sentencing hearings.
How did the public react to Wright’s smile?
Danta Wright’s smile during his sentencing sparked outrage and disgust among the public, especially on social media. Many people condemned Wright for his lack of remorse and respect for his victim and his family. Some people also called for harsher punishment for Wright, such as life imprisonment or death penalty. Some examples of the public reactions are:
- “This kid is pure evil. He deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life. How can he smile and laugh after killing an innocent person? He has no soul.”
- “I hope he never gets out of prison. He is a danger to society. He has no remorse, no conscience, no empathy. He is a cold-blooded killer who thinks this is a joke. He needs to be locked up forever.”
- “He should be executed. He does not deserve to live. He took away a life that had so much potential. He ruined a family that loved their son. He showed no respect for the law or the court. He is a waste of space and oxygen.”
What is the current status of Wright?
Wright is currently serving his sentence at the Macomb Correctional Facility in New Haven, Michigan. He is eligible for parole in 2040, when he will be 40 years old. He has not made any public statements since his sentencing. It is not known if he has changed his attitude or behavior in prison.
Danta Wright is a 17-year-old convicted killer who smiled and laughed during his sentencing hearing in July 2017. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery, felony firearm, and second-degree murder in the shooting death of Jordan Klee, an 18-year-old student from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wright was sentenced to 23-50 years in prison for his crime, but his attitude in court outraged the judge, the victim’s family, and the public.
Wright’s accomplices, Delreno Gracey and Jermarius Ellison, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the murder and were sentenced to 15-25 years and 25-50 years in prison, respectively. Wright’s smile during his sentencing sparked outrage and disgust among the public, especially on social media. Wright is currently serving his sentence at the Macomb Correctional Facility in New Haven, Michigan. He is eligible for parole in 2040, when he will be 40 years old.
Content Source: Wikipedia
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