Man convicted of murder in shooting of Sacramento girl over ‘perceived’ disrespect, DA says
A Sacramento County jury on Monday convicted a man of murder for shooting a 15-year-old girl in the back of the head because he believed she had disrespected him, prosecutors said.
Christopher Simpson was 17 when he shot Macy Murphy, who was found dead in a car five years ago, according to a news release from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
The jury found Simpson guilty of first-degree murder, a charge that included an enhancement for using a gun in the girl’s killing, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Simpson was prosecuted as an adult. Now 22, Simpson faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison for the girl’s death, prosecutors said.
Simpson remains in custody at the Sacramento County Jail. He is scheduled to return to Sacramento Superior Court on Jan. 14 for his sentencing hearing. Deputy District Attorney Shauna Franklin prosecuted the case.
Murphy’s family and friends have described her as a budding artist who wanted to pursue a career in the creative arts and was loved by all. One of her grade-school teachers recalled her as sensitive, intuitive and bright.
The teenage girl was a student at Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy Charter School. Murphy lived with her mother, Renee Pacli, in south Sacramento.
Prosecutors said Simpson and Murphy were in the same circle of friends. On May 29, 2016, Simpson shot the girl in the back of the head while she was sitting in a car, because Simpson “perceived” she had disrespected him, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Investigators never recovered the gun used in the fatal shooting.
Murphy’s body was found on Inisheer Way in a car that had been parked on the street since the night before, according to residents in the Vineyard area neighborhood just west of Elk Grove Florin Road. Simpson was arrested the following day.
About 100 people gathered to mourn her death and celebrate her life at Illa Collin Park near Calvine Road, blocks away from where her body was found two days earlier. Cynthia Ruiz, Murphy’s aunt, said the teen was dedicated to her family and wanted to finish high school early to pursue her career.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 5:54 PM.
