A 36-year-old man, John Tooson, has been sentenced to two life prison terms after pleading guilty to the murder of two young sisters during a shooting in Ashland, Kentucky, in the United States.
Tooson received the sentences in Boyd Circuit Court after pleading guilty to two counts of murder, first-degree robbery, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, wanton endangerment, and being a persistent felony offender.
According to prosecutors, Tooson was in a relationship with 20-year-old Selina Easter at the time of the incident.
Authorities said he entered her apartment in June 2022 and fatally shot both Selina and her 18-year-old sister, Summer Algarakhuly.
Investigators also revealed that Summer's newborn daughter was inside another room of the apartment during the shooting but was not physically harmed.
Following the attack, Tooson fled Kentucky before he was eventually tracked down and arrested in neighboring Ohio.
During the sentencing hearing, members of the victims' family gave emotional statements about the devastating impact of the killings, particularly on the children left behind.
One relative, who is now raising Summer's daughter, described the heartbreaking reality of the child's future.
“I was only ever supposed to be her aunt,” the family member said.
“She will never know what it feels like to run into her mother Summer's arms after a bad day.”
Boyd County Commonwealth's Attorney, Rhonda Copley, described the sentencing as an important step toward justice for the victims and their loved ones.
“The plea and sentencing of John Tooson brings accountability for the senseless and tragic loss of two young lives, Selina and Summer,” she said.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman also acknowledged the profound loss suffered by the family, noting that while the sentence cannot erase their grief, it provides a measure of justice.
“A mother can never be replaced. The sentences delivered do not heal the emptiness left behind, but we hope they provide justice for all those who loved these two young women,” Coleman said.
Under Kentucky law, Tooson will become eligible for parole after serving 25 years in prison.
