Alex Brodigan's Killer Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

GRESHAM, OR — Austin Nathaniel Brown, the 21-year-old who shot Alexander Brodigan in the face, killing him outside North Gresham Elementary School on June 19, 2017, was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this month after pleading guilty to one count each of manslaughter and robbery.

Brown's accomplice in the killing, Andrew James McMahon, 22, was previously sentenced to five years in prison on the robbery charge; sentencing for his role in the actual killing has not yet been scheduled, Multnomah County District Attorney spokesman Brent Weisberg said in a statement.

Court documents dated Aug. 16 show McMahon faces a maximum sentence of 20 years as well.

Brown and McMahon originally pleaded not guilty to accusations they and two others, 18-year-olds Amber Marie Wilson and Tyler J. Mead, arranged to meet Brodigan under the pretense they would purchase cannabis from him, but instead tried to rob Brodigan of the pot and ultimately shot him one time in the process.

Charges against Mead and Wilson — who reportedly supplied the gun that killed Alex — were dropped in April. McMahon was sentenced in mid-August.

“Austin Brown killed my son,” Kerry Brodigan, Alex's father, said in court. “He had no right to take him from us. He did so without regard for Alex or the people who would be affected by his actions … It is my hope that Mr. Brown gets the help that he needs and perhaps someday he can atone for his actions.

"I hope to be able to forgive Mr. Brown someday for what he did and the pain that he's caused our family," Brodigan continued. "For now, we will continue to grieve and remember Alex as he was … a brother, an uncle, a grandson, a great grandson, a cousin, a nephew, and a friend to many people."

Additionally, Alex, who was 24, just a few days prior to his death witnessed the birth of his daughter.

"There have been many sleepless nights and long days of sadness," Brodigan told Brown at sentencing. "Feelings of anger, frustration and sadness have become normal occurrences … No one expects to have to endure the death of a child — especially a death caused by malicious disregard for human life."

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SEE ALSO:

• 'Hit A Lick': Why Alex Brodigan Was Murdered On June 19
• Gresham Killing Sees First Conviction, Sentence

Brown was originally charged with murder for his role in Alex's killing, but the Multnomah County DA's office reduced his charge.

"We believe the resolution of this case takes into account the facts that were learned after the indictment was filed," Weisberg told Patch in an email. "By pleading guilty to manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm and robbery in the first degree with a firearm, Mr. Brown admits his guilt and is being held accountable for the death of Mr. Brodigan.

"The plea also spares the family from having to go through a potentially lengthy trial, which could compound their grief," he added. "Furthermore, in all plea negotiations, including this one, we discussed the potential outcomes with the Brodigan family and took into consideration their wishes."

As for the charges against Mead and Wilson that were dismissed, Weisberg said the DA's office is confident the people directly responsible for Alex's death have been held accountable.

This past summer, on Aug. 16, Brown's team of defense attorneys filed three motions, including one requesting state prosecutors take the death penalty off the table due to Brown's age and apparent mental disabilities. Another motion was to suppress Brown's original admission of guilt to Gresham investigators based on the way in which Gresham detectives obtained the confession.

It's unclear what effect, if any, those motions had on the DA's decision.

In any event, according to Weisberg, Alex's mother said she believes the entire Brodigan family received its own life sentence the day Brown shot her son in the face.

"We will persevere and we will bounce back,” she added. “Austin, you have a second chance. Do something good with it. Do something measurable."

For his part, Brown was apparently apologetic at his hearing.

"It was a terrible accident and I didn’t do that on purpose," he said. "I wish I could take it back … If I could take it back, I would. I'm very sorry and hope you guys can forgive me."

Images via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Shutterstock