TAMPA, Fla.  The family of Tampa nursing student Savannah Mathis faced the man found guilty of shooting her to death in December 2021 as he was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

A jury found Vakarvery Scott guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder for firing 15 shots into the car driven by Mathis, who was 21 at the time, killing her and injuring her sister. Investigators say the shooting took place in a neighborhood just a few blocks from Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.

Evidence during Scott’s trial included surveillance video of the shooting and his fingerprints on the murder weapon.

Mathis’ mother faced Scott during his sentencing, saying she could forgive him but will forever live with the pain his actions caused.

“She will forever be 21,” said LaMaria Smith. “It’s still very hard for me to talk about my daughter, Savannah, in the past tense, because she was so young and full of life and dreams.”

Smith went on to tell Scott about all of the moments in life she will never get to share with her daughter, and all the things she will miss.

“The fact that you can still have your voice and smile and see your parents on visitation, that’s something I no longer have," she said. "The only picture I have of my daughter smiling is on her headstone."

Mathis' sister, Nena, was in the car during the shooting and was hit by one of the bullets. She told Scott she will never forget the trauma of watching her sister die, and will miss sharing life with her.

“You took away my safe haven, someone whose dream it was to help people and a woman who brought so much light to people’s lives without her," she said. "The world has dimmed for every heart she has touched."

Per state law, Scott was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.