A California man has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison after being convicted of fatally shooting his former partner in front of their 4-year-old son in a case that prosecutors described as a devastating act of domestic violence.

According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Jeffery Kendall, 39, was convicted of the February 16, 2024, killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis at her basement apartment in Pinole, California.

Prosecutors said Ligdis called 911 while hiding in a laundry room with her young son after Kendall allegedly forced his way into the apartment. During the recorded call, she could reportedly be heard pleading with him to let her go, telling him he was frightening their child and repeatedly asking him to stop.

Authorities said the little boy witnessed the fatal shooting and cried out for his mother during the incident.

Following the shooting, Kendall fled the scene but was later taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol.

Investigators said the couple had recently ended their relationship before the incident. Family members also told local media that Kendall had struggled with mental health issues and had a history of drug use.

During sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells described the case as an example of the dangers that can arise when domestic violence escalates after a relationship ends, urging the court to impose a lengthy sentence.

A jury found Kendall guilty of murder on July 31, along with child endangerment for placing his son in danger during the incident. The court also found him guilty of possessing a 3D-printed semiautomatic firearm, according to prosecutors.

The judge sentenced Kendall to 50 years to life in prison, describing the case as one of the most difficult he had handled during his judicial career.

As part of the sentence, Kendall is prohibited from contacting his son—with limited court-approved exceptions—until the child turns 16 years old in 2035, prosecutors said.

Source: New York Post