Private Gets 75 Years in Palermo Shooting

An Army private was sentenced to 75 years in prison Saturday night for the robbery during which American League umpire Steve Palermo was shot and partially paralyzed.

Pvt. Kevin Bivins, 22, was sentenced for the robbery and shooting last July near a Dallas restaurant.

“What you did son was terrible,” State District Judge John Creuzot told Bivins during sentencing. “You need to realize things like this shake up this whole county. People just don’t feel safe when they go out to eat late at night.”

Creuzot told jurors that “no one is going to quarrel with you on your verdict in this case,” the Dallas Times Herald reported.

Bivins also will be tried on two counts of attempted murder in the incident.

Palermo and former Southern Methodist University football player Terence Mann were among a group that chased robbers who attacked two waitresses. Mann also was wounded in the incident.

Earlier Saturday, Palermo told the Associated Press from his home in Overland Park, Kan., that he was pleased with the jurors’ decision.

“They found the right verdict, because I’m still a prisoner, too. Until I can walk out of these braces and shed these crutches, I’ll be a prisoner,” Palermo said. “The question is whether it’s going to be 99 years in my prison with braces and crutches.”

Mann, who recovered fully from three gunshot wounds, said: “Thank God it came out right. I don’t want to comment on the sentence. I’ll let the Lord and the justice system handle that.”