Man takes plea bargain in case of 2007 Upland Colonies shooting death
One of two brothers charged with murder for a 2007 fatal shooting in the Upland Colonies community has accepted a plea offer from prosecutors that includes a 12-year prison sentence.
James Carroll, 27, and William Carroll, 29, were accused of shooting and killing Ryan Carson Beck, 33, on Nov. 21, 2007 after Beck came to the Carrolls' home to allegedly confront him over a drug debt.
James Carroll pleaded guilty Feb. 20 in West Valley Superior Court to four felony counts: voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
William Carroll entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors in July that carried a three-year prison sentence.
If James Carroll had been convicted on prosecutors' filed charges -- one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder -- he could have faced a life sentence.
When Beck and three other men visited the Carrolls' home in the 1700 block of North Isabella Avenue the day of the incident, the brothers were armed with guns, anticipating a confrontation.
Beck arrived with a large knife intending to attack or intimidate James Carroll, one of Carroll's roommates testified at a preliminary hearing.
In the ensuing confrontation, William Carroll suffered a large gash to his cheek, Beck was shot and killed, and two of Beck's associates were wounded by bullets from the Carroll brothers.
Of the two brothers, James Carroll was the primary aggressor, prosecutors said. William Carroll tried to quell the violence before shooting ensued, prosecutors said.
James Carroll is set to be sentenced on May 15.
Staff Writer Rod Leveque contributed to this report.
The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the shooting happened in 2006.
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