Teen sentenced to up to 25 years in shooting death of classmate

Amari Altomore’s mother read a statement in court to Terry Newton.

By RENATTA SIGNORINI
Trib Total Media

Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent
Monessen junior Amari Altomore (53) is shown during the Greyhounds’ game in Mapletown Oct. 21.

A month ago, Bethany Altomore accepted her son’s high school diploma.

His cap and gown were draped over an empty chair at Monessen High School’s Class of 2024 graduation, a memorial of sorts for Amari Altomore, who was killed in 2022.

“Then we had to go to the cemetery to celebrate,” she said.

In a Westmoreland County courtroom on Monday, she confronted the person being held responsible for Amari’s death — Terry Newton, 17. Altomore’s hands shook as she read from a prepared statement while on the witness stand, pleading with Judge Scott Mears to impose a sentence of 16 years — the same amount of time Amari lived.

“No matter what sentence he is given, Terry will still be able to come home and live his life,” she said.

It will be some time before Newton is able to do that though. He was sentenced Monday to eight to 25 years in a state prison followed by one year of probation in connection with Amari’s death. Newton pleaded guilty in April to charges of voluntary manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said Amari was shot one time in the abdomen during an altercation Nov. 29, 2022, as the teens played video games in the bedroom of Newton’s South 14th Street home.

Police said Newton claimed Amari initially brandished a gun and that it accidentally discharged as the teens fought over the weapon. Newton fled the shooting scene and was on the run for three weeks before he was arrested. He has been held in a pod at the Lawrence County Prison for juvenile offenders charged with adult crimes. Newton will turn 18 in August.

The courtroom was packed with family and supporters of both Amari and Newton. Several of them offered heart-wrenching, tearful testimony about the impact of Amari’s death.

His mother and other family members described Amari as considerate, empathetic and respectful.

“My son’s murder destroyed my life in every way imaginable,” Altomore said.

Amari’s grandmother, Debby Altomore, said she lives with guilt that she let him leave her house that day to go hang out with Newton.

“I never could have imagined that when I met Terry a few weeks earlier, he would be my worst nightmare,” she testified.

They questioned the friendship between the two boys, but Newton’s family testified that Amari and Newton were always together, with Amari often at Newton’s home.

“Terry’s not a monster, he’s a young male living in the community that we live in,” said his mother Tanieishia Thompson. “Terry’s a good person and has a good heart. He’s not what everybody’s making him out to be.”

Newton apologized to both families.

“This had a big impact on all of us, especially me,” he said. “It’s still new to me that he’s gone.”

Previous defense attempts to have Newton’s case transferred to juvenile court were unsuccessful. Witnesses testified during a decertification hearing that Newton had prior involvement with the juvenile justice system for violent behavior.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker echoed the Altomores’ call for a hefty sentence.

“No one truly knows what happened in the room that night except for the defendant and God,” she said.

Defense attorney Ken Noga asked Mears to balance Newton’s age and potential future with the need for punishment.

“He is absolutely going to need a lot of help and a lot of supervision,” Noga said. “Terry can’t simply just go home. He needs a different environment … to have a new start.”

Mears said he has been mulling over the sentence for months, adding that 25 years was the maximum period of supervision he could impose by law. He encouraged Newton to take advantage of programs offered at state prisons as a way to turn his life around.

”Mr. Newton, I hope that you look at that as an opportunity,” Mears said.