Judge hands down 14-year sentence for 'senseless' daylight Saskatoon shooting

A Saskatoon judge agrees with the Crown's argument that a 14-year sentence is needed for a brazen daylight shooting in the city.

On Thursday, Justice Natasha Crooks imposed the sentence on Zennen Clyde Thomas, who previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter for killing Kaylum Tom on Dec. 1, 2022.

"This was a deliberate, senseless and unprovoked act of gun violence against an unarmed victim," Crooks said. "Mr. Thomas shot the victim in broad daylight with bystanders present on the street."

Thomas, now 21, was just a few months past his 18th birthday when he killed Tom, 21.

According to the agreed facts at Thomas's sentencing, they both happened to go to the same apartment at 126 Avenue W South, although they had never met before.

Thomas and two others left and waited for a cab at the door, then Tom and his brother also left and got into a white minivan parked across the street. When the taxi arrived, Tom and another man got out of the minivan and started walking toward the cab.

Surveillance video from the apartment building shows what happened, but there was no audio. Some words were exchanged about gang affiliation, according to the agreed facts.

Then Thomas raised a gun and fired a single shot, striking Tom in the chest. Thomas got into the taxi, which drove away, and Tom went back toward the minivan. 

The people in the minivan flagged down a patrolling police officer within a minute, but Tom was already unresponsive by the time the officer tried to help him. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

During the sentencing hearing in Saskatoon Court of King's Bench last month, Thomas's lawyer argued for a sentence of nine to 12 years, noting Thomas has significant cognitive deficits that affected his ability to make good decisions.

Justice Crooks said on Thursday that given the circumstances, the sentence could be as high as 17 years — and in imposing the 14-year sentence she was taking into consideration the defence's arguments.

When Thomas was given the opportunity to speak at the sentencing hearing last month, he declined.

But on Thursday, his family said he regretted that.

"When the judge asked him if he had something to say, he didn't know that that was his opportunity to apologize to the family, and he wants to say sorry," his aunt Stephanie Thomas said outside court. "He's remorseful for what happened."