A Crystal man has been sentenced to 38.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting a pregnant mother of three in St. Paul. Paul Dwayne Harris was sentenced on Thursday in Ramsey County District Court for the death of 21-year-old Gabrielle Dehoyos. The incident occurred on March 13, 2023, when Dehoyos was sitting in a car at a stoplight at the corner of St. Anthony Avenue and Marion Street. Another vehicle pulled up next to her, and the driver, later identified as Harris, opened fire. Unfortunately, Dehoyos was hit instead of the intended target, the driver of the car she was in. She was rushed to Regions Hospital, but doctors found no detectable brain activity and she passed away the following day.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the person driving the car Dehoyos was in identified a man known as “Pauly P” as the shooter. After investigating pictures on Facebook, it was determined that “Pauly P” was actually Paul Dwayne Harris. Despite initially denying his involvement, Harris eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
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The emotional impact on Dehoyos’ family was evident during the sentencing. Her mother, Denise Dehoyos, described the pain of receiving the phone call about her daughter’s shooting and holding her hand all night after surgery, hoping for her survival. Her sister, Charlotte, spoke of Gabby’s light and humor, and her father expressed his lack of sympathy for Harris, stating that the family is serving a life sentence without Gabrielle.
Judge Maria Mitchell handed down the 38.5-year sentence, with Harris required to serve just over 25 years. She encouraged him to use this time to reflect and make amends to the Dehoyos family by living a better life. However, Harris showed no remorse and caused a disturbance in the courtroom before being led away.
The sentencing brings some closure to the Dehoyos family, but they will forever feel the void left by Gabrielle’s absence. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on innocent lives.
