Paul John Alvarez Sr. was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison for first-degree murder by Pima County Superior Court Judge Brenden J. Griffin. Alvarez was also sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of dangerous behavior and 21 years in prison for shooting in a car. He is eligible for community supervision after 25 years.

On October 8, 2018, Baker and then-18-year-old Emilio Alvarez were on opposing teams in a pick-up game at the Christchurch United Methodist basketball court at 655 N. Craycroft Road. Witnesses said Baker repeatedly fouled Emilio and the two exchanged trash talk, the Arizona Daily Star previously reported.

As the situation heated up further, the two began to fight, with Baker punching Emilio Alvarez in the left ear, knocking out the earring. The boy then left and called his father, asking him to pick him up at a nearby gas station, The Star reported.

The boy told his father about the fight and told him not to come to church. As he started walking to see his father, he heard gunshots coming from the church and took refuge in a nearby office building, where he saw his father’s car circle the church twice, The Star reported. .

Alvarez said he drove to the church and asked the group of men who had beaten his son. Mr. Baker identified himself and apologized, but was later hit with 12 bullets, including three to his head, The Star reported.

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutor Joshua Moser read a letter from Baker’s mother, Elisa. In it, she said, Baker was always a go-to and she missed him more than words can say.

“Not only did I lose my son, I lost a large part of myself,” the mother said in the letter.

Moser called the incident an “incredibly shocking event” and called for Griffin to be sentenced to life imprisonment for first-degree murder.

Alvarez’s attorney, Nicky DiCapri, told the court that her client had a mental illness and was a good person before he took over. No one expected her to reach this level, she said.

After his arrest, Alvarez told detectives he was “frustrated” and “thought it was personal” when his son told him about the fight, and he knew it was wrong to kill Baker. He said he felt unsafe because there were other men on the basketball court. reported The Star.

Alvarez also told police that he was a registered executioner and had previously been in prison for murder, which was not true, The STAR said. reported.

Since the shooting, courts have gone back and forth on whether Alvarez is eligible to stand trial.

In April 2022, Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Butler ruled that Alvarez had the ability to stand trial and the case could be reopened. A year later, Alvarez signed a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, shooting and driving, and two counts of dangerous conduct.