GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Abdi Ahmed was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for the high-speed crash which killed three people.
Ahmed pleaded no contest to three counts of second-degree reckless homicide for the June 28, 2020, Lombardi Avenue crash which killed Jessie Saldana, Sonia Gonzalez-Guillen and Sonia Gonzalez.
Judge John Zakowski also placed him on extended supervision for 30 years after his release. Ahmed was also ordered to perform community service, speaking about the crash and helping educate others about the incident.
Before the sentence was issued, family and friends of the victims asked for long sentences.
A staff member from the victim-witness office, read statements on behalf of several family members, including Saldana’s younger brother.
“As a family we hope you get the maximum sentence for each charge, and don’t get an early chance at parole so you are never able to hurt anyone else again for the longest amount of time. It will give our family a sliver of peace to at least know he is away,” the statement said.
Ahmed, 24, apologized, and asked for forgiveness. He turned to the victims’ families to address them.
“I would like to apologize and send my deep condolences to you guys for the loss of your loved ones in the tragedy that has happened on that fateful day. It was never my intention to do any of this. It was not something I planned to do. It was just a tragedy that I made a poor choice on that day, and I’m deeply sorry for the hurt. Every day I think about this – how I can reverse. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about bringing them back. I have nights I don’t sleep. (unintelligible) things I can and can’t do. I ask that you guys forgive me, show mercy,” he said.
Judge Zakowski called it one of the most difficult sentencings he has had in his years as a defense attorney, prosecutor and judge.
“Throughout this whole case, Abdi, I’ve wanted to say “What the hell were you doing?” I guess I know what you were doing. It’s probably “What the hell were you thinking?” Young people today, it’s all about themselves sometimes, and they don’t think about other people. You weren’t thinking about anybody else but yourself that day,” Zakowski said.
Zakowski said it was a long sentence, but noted Ahmed would still be able to do the things the victims can’t, including communicate with family members.
According to the criminal complaint, Ahmed was driving 104 mph (in a 35mph zone) 1.2 seconds before the airbag deployed in his Dodge Charger. Data from the airbag computer module also shows the brake was engaged only 1.1 seconds before the airbag went off. The data shows the car was traveling 84 mph the tenth of a second before the airbag deployed.
