Man sentenced after pleading guilty to 2022 murder caught on camera by doorbell

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Two years later, the family of a man killed in a 2022 Father’s Day shooting now has justice.

In June 2022Tremont Tobin was shot multiple times outside the home of Gregory Bell, where he died before reaching the hospital.

Court documents show a doorbell camera captured the two men talking before Bell pulled out a gun and shot him. Prosecutors say Bell wiped the gun clean, put it next to Tobin and told police the shooting was in self-defense.

He would eventually plead guilty to murder, tampering with evidence and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

During the sentencing, Tobin’s family told the judge that he is the father and grandfather of nine children and nine grandchildren. Tobin’s mother, Karen Sears, said his family was everything to him and he loved to make every holiday or important event special for his children and grandchildren.

“I need to go to the cemetery on our birthday and every other day or to wish my child a happy birthday,” Sears told the judge.

In court, Bell gave a statement in which he apologized to Tobin’s family and again said he shot Tobin out of fear. The family says the video of the killing tells a different story.

“He went over there to talk to him,” Tobin’s fiancee Letitia Malone said. “He didn’t raise his voice, there was no argument, there was no reason for him to feel threatened.”

Tobin’s family said they still don’t know what led to the shooting and say they considered Bell a family friend. While the fact that he is standing trial brings some relief, it doesn’t take away the loss they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

“He wasn’t scared,” Sears said. “You sat on the porch waiting for my baby. I watched the video. I saw you kill my child on video. You were not threatened. I don’t accept your apology and I will never, ever accept your apology because this is my boy that you took from me and my family.”