Crime & Safety
Billy Ingram Gets Life Sentence in Waukesha Gas Station Homicide
Ingram, 21, will serve a life sentence for intentional homicide in the shooting death of Nayyer Rana last year.
By Charlie Gorney
Billy Ingram, a 21-year-old Waukesha man found guilty in the homicide of a gas station clerk during a robbery, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Ingram was handed the sentence during an emotionally charged hearing at Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday, when Judge Kathryn Foster said protection of the community outweighed any mitigating factors such as Ingram's youth and a psychological evaluation that did not portray him as inherently violent.
As part of Ingram's sentence, he will not be eligible for extended supervision. He will, however, be eligible for parole in 2071, a date Foster deliberately set beyond Ingram's life expectancy.
Ingram killed Nayyer Rana, an immigrant from Pakistan who became a U.S. citizen in his quest to provide a better life for his children. He was working at the Broadway Petro Mart, planning to purchase his own convenience store in the future, when he was fatally shot three times May 29, 2012.
The homicide was particularly devastating for the family, as Rana met the same fate as his father, a gas station attendant stabbed to death in Madison in 1990.
A bespectacled Ingram remained silent for most of the hearing, sitting between defense attorneys in his dark orange prison scrubs with his hair pulled back, only looking forward.
He said only three words during the hearing — "No, thank you." — when asked if he would like to say anything on his behalf.
Very emotional statements were given by two of Rana's daughters, who asked the judge to ensure that Ingram could not have the opportunity to re-enter the community.
"Every morning we wake up hoping it was just a really bad dream," said Mohney Rana, explaining the devastating impact on the Rana family. She described the pain and depression they go through on a daily basis.
"I miss his laugh, I miss his voice and I miss his comforting ways," she said. "No sentence that Billy Ingram could ever receive would be enough for the pain he has put by dad through in taking the life of an innocent man. ... Our family is forever broken."
A statement was also given by another of Rana's daughters, Mehwish Rana. Her prepared statement was read by the family's victim advocate. In the statement, Rana said she is now afraid to enter a gas station after her grandfather's death repeated itself with her father.
"When you take away someone's life, it doesn't just end the life of that individual. It destroys the life of so many others," she said. "I wish Wisconsin actually had the death penalty for people like (Ingram) who don't have a conscience and don't give a second thought before taking someone's life."
Judge Foster spoke at length about the factors for Ingram's sentence, including his prior criminal record, the progressive severity of his crimes, dependence on drugs and alcohol and the safety of the community. In addition, she seemed to put considerable weight on Ingram's conduct during the trial.
"All I see on your face is indifference," Foster said, also referencing a pre-sentencing report that Ingram has been eating and sleeping well in prison, aside from some anger displayed after the conviction. "That's beyond a lack of remorse."
The main point of contention between the defense and prosecutors was whether Ingram should be granted a period of extended supervision after serving a prison sentence. Prosecutors pushed for a life sentence with no extended supervision, while defense attorney Samuel Benedict said the judge should not make the determination now.
Benedict said the court could not know at this point in time whether a part of Ingram's life could be "salvageable" after a prison sentence was served.
Ultimately, though, Foster came down on the side of prosecutors. She said the safety of the community outweighed any "mitigating factors" and Rana's death has had a "chilling effect" on the community.
In fact, prosecutors said that before his death, Rana had transferred to Waukesha from a Milwaukee location, believing Waukesha to be safer.
Ingram was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for the armed robbery charge, five years for possession of a firearm by a felon and six months for marijuana possession. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Waukesha Editor Sarah Millard contributed to this report.
Billy Ingram, a 21-year-old Waukesha man found guilty in the homicide of a gas station clerk during a robbery, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Ingram was handed the sentence during an emotionally charged hearing at Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday, when Judge Kathryn Foster said protection of the community outweighed any mitigating factors such as Ingram's youth and a psychological evaluation that did not portray him as inherently violent.
As part of Ingram's sentence, he will not be eligible for extended supervision. He will, however, be eligible for parole in 2071, a date Foster deliberately set beyond Ingram's life expectancy.
Ingram killed Nayyer Rana, an immigrant from Pakistan who became a U.S. citizen in his quest to provide a better life for his children. He was working at the Broadway Petro Mart, planning to purchase his own convenience store in the future, when he was fatally shot three times May 29, 2012.
The homicide was particularly devastating for the family, as Rana met the same fate as his father, a gas station attendant stabbed to death in Madison in 1990.
A bespectacled Ingram remained silent for most of the hearing, sitting between defense attorneys in his dark orange prison scrubs with his hair pulled back, only looking forward.
He said only three words during the hearing — "No, thank you." — when asked if he would like to say anything on his behalf.
'Our Family is Forever Broken'
Very emotional statements were given by two of Rana's daughters, who asked the judge to ensure that Ingram could not have the opportunity to re-enter the community.
"Every morning we wake up hoping it was just a really bad dream," said Mohney Rana, explaining the devastating impact on the Rana family. She described the pain and depression they go through on a daily basis.
"I miss his laugh, I miss his voice and I miss his comforting ways," she said. "No sentence that Billy Ingram could ever receive would be enough for the pain he has put by dad through in taking the life of an innocent man. ... Our family is forever broken."
- Related: Remembering Nayyer Rana
A statement was also given by another of Rana's daughters, Mehwish Rana. Her prepared statement was read by the family's victim advocate. In the statement, Rana said she is now afraid to enter a gas station after her grandfather's death repeated itself with her father.
"When you take away someone's life, it doesn't just end the life of that individual. It destroys the life of so many others," she said. "I wish Wisconsin actually had the death penalty for people like (Ingram) who don't have a conscience and don't give a second thought before taking someone's life."
'Beyond a Lack of Remorse'
Judge Foster spoke at length about the factors for Ingram's sentence, including his prior criminal record, the progressive severity of his crimes, dependence on drugs and alcohol and the safety of the community. In addition, she seemed to put considerable weight on Ingram's conduct during the trial.
"All I see on your face is indifference," Foster said, also referencing a pre-sentencing report that Ingram has been eating and sleeping well in prison, aside from some anger displayed after the conviction. "That's beyond a lack of remorse."
The main point of contention between the defense and prosecutors was whether Ingram should be granted a period of extended supervision after serving a prison sentence. Prosecutors pushed for a life sentence with no extended supervision, while defense attorney Samuel Benedict said the judge should not make the determination now.
Benedict said the court could not know at this point in time whether a part of Ingram's life could be "salvageable" after a prison sentence was served.
Ultimately, though, Foster came down on the side of prosecutors. She said the safety of the community outweighed any "mitigating factors" and Rana's death has had a "chilling effect" on the community.
In fact, prosecutors said that before his death, Rana had transferred to Waukesha from a Milwaukee location, believing Waukesha to be safer.
Ingram was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for the armed robbery charge, five years for possession of a firearm by a felon and six months for marijuana possession. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Waukesha Editor Sarah Millard contributed to this report.
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