A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in a state prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the September shooting death of 39-year-old Upper Darby resident Jermaine Richardson in East Lansdowne.

Marquise Smith, 28, of the 5400 block of Media Street, shot and killed Richardson at about 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the 100 block of Wildwood Avenue after the two men had a dispute, according to police.

Richardson, who was not armed, was shot multiple times in the chest and died at the scene.

Smith told detectives that Richardson approached him on the sidewalk and that he fired multiple times at close range, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Common Pleas Court Judge G. Michael Green heard from several family members of the victim who described him as kind, thoughtful and loving.

His older sister said she was “furious” over his killing, which came on the heels of their mother’s death. Her younger siblings are now dealing with depression and anxiety, she said. Even though he was her younger brother, she said Richardson acted like a father to their close-knit family.

“You never gave him a chance,” an aunt told Smith. “You never wanted to see what his intentions were. You just shot him down like he was nothing.”

That aunt said she shared a birthday with Richardson and that those occasions would now be empty without him around to help celebrate.

“Six to twelve years is nothing for the pain that I endure every day,” another aunt said. “But I have to try to live and go on.”

Richardson’s father said he had helped repair his relationship with his estranged children and that they all must now try to move on without him as they hold onto his memory.

“It’s a loss. It’s a dizziness,” he said. “You recover day by day. You never forget. And it is hard, but you got to be strong.”

Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Rachel Sweeney, said she could not fill in the final moments of Smith’s life for his family or bring him back.

A video of the event was referenced by family members but was not shown in court. Moore said there was a lack of justification for this violent and unnecessary killing, but added that the negotiated sentence was appropriate.

Defense counsel David Nenner extended his condolences to the family, but then told them to shut up when they began talking during his statements to the court. He apologized after a sidebar.

In Nenner’s version of events, Richardson came to his ex-girlfriend’s house that night, pushed her to the ground, and threatened to “pop” the defendant before reaching for his waist, prompting Smith to fire.

Nenner noted his client had no prior contacts with law enforcement and did not think he would again after this. He said he has maintained steady employment as a medical aide and previously worked with disabled children at the YMCA of Delaware County.

Green also heard from Smith’s family members who described him as a good kid who stayed to himself and did what he was supposed to do.

Smith addressed Richardson’s family and said he never intended for this to happen. He said he heard their pain and takes responsibility for that, though he could not remove it.

In addition to prison time, Smith was ordered to serve three years of consecutive probation, forfeit the firearm and pay $5,000 in restitution to the family.

He is not eligible for early release, but was given credit for time served since Sept. 7.