Cadence Beauparlant sentenced to seven years after court hearing decision

A Hamilton judge brought the gavel down hard on Cadence Beauparlant, the man who brought a loaded handgun to a Hamilton house party in 2020 which resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.

Justice Toni Skarica was blunt in his evaluation of Cadence Beauparlant. Describing his total abandonment of a teen bleeding out on the kitchen floor as “monstrous.”

Beauparlant, 23, is currently serving four years for dealing drugs, brought a loaded Glock handgun to a party at this house on St. Matthews Avenue in Hamilton on July 16, 2020.

The court heard there was drinking, and drug use, and the people at the party handed around the gun like it was a toy. The gun went off and a bullet struck 17-year-old Myah Larmond in the head.

READ MORE: ‘My life shattered’: court hears from family of Hamilton teen killed at house party 

Devante Skye-Davis pleaded guilty to manslaughter after accidentally shooting his girlfriend in the head. He remained at the scene to try to help Larmond and called 911.

Cadence Beauparlant grabbed his gun and fled the scene. He was arrested a year later and pleaded guilty to unauthorized possession of a loaded firearm.

On Thursday afternoon Beauparlant was sentenced to seven years in jail.

Detective Sargent Steve Bereziuk, from Hamilton Police, says “it’s certainly precedent setting, it’s a strong stance on gun violence and gun violence in the city, and that’s the takeaway from this.”

Beauparlant’s defence attorney was asking for a sentence of less than two years, in his decision, Justice Skarica kept bringing up increased gun violence in the GTA and Hamilton saying, a longer sentence was appropriate for such a “reckless stupid act” that led to the death of a 17-year-old girl.

READ MORE: Court hears 2 guilty pleas in connection to shooting of 17-year-old in Hamilton

Hamilton police hope a sentence of this magnitude will send a powerful message.

Sargent Bereziuk says “I think that’s the intention of it, with the serious sentence imposed. It’s supposed to be the message. Stats show gun crimes and shootings are on the rise in Hamilton, as an officer I hope it would deter people from bringing or using a firearm at all.”

Larmond’s mother Christine Gramada cried after hearing the sentence. 

Larmond’s family released a statement this afternoon: “ultimately there is no victory great enough for our family with the loss of Myah as she is gone forever. However, what happened in the courtroom today was very powerful. Hopefully this results in stiffer penalties for possessing illegal firearms. With the sentence imposed today, we believe a message has been sent out loud and clear.”

Beauparlant is currently in jail for a different crime and could be behind bars until 2033. Beauparlant’s lawyer said they will appeal.