FRESNO,CA (KMJ) – Brian Lorisse Cooks was convicted Thursday of manslaughter for his role in the death of Janessa Ramirez.
The 9 year-old was killed outside a laundromat in Central Fresno back in January of 2015 when she was caught in the crossfire of a gang related shooting on Clinton and Marks.
Cooks issued an apology to the Ramirez family – back then – after Janessa’s mother (above) said she’d forgiven her daughter’s killers.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office says at the pre-trial hearing, Cooks, a convicted felon, pleaded “no contest” to charges of Voluntary Manslaughter, Participation in a Criminal Street Gang, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Under the plea agreement, Cooks will be sentenced to serve 21 years in the California Department of Corrections.
Cooks is currently in custody at the Fresno County Jail.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5th in Fresno County Superior Court.
