Donohoe sentenced 50 years-life for murder of South Lake Tahoe gas station attendant

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On March 1, a South Lake Tahoe jury found Sean Thomas Donohoe guilty of murdering Manpreet Singh in August of 2013 as he worked in the US Gasoline station on the corner of Lodi Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd. Today, Judge Suzanne Kingsbury sentenced Donohoe to 50 years to life for the cold-blooded killing of Singh.

Singh's family was unable to travel from India to face their son's killer, but they did provide a powerful impact statement according to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office. They described that the murder of their son resulted in their "lives being over."

Manpreet immigrated to the USA for a better life for himself and his family and, at 27, his life was taken for no reason at all. During Donohoe's trial the jury had heard of Singh's last evening alive, and how Donohoe walked into the gas station, raised his gun, and shot Manpreet, then calmly left. It was not a robbery, but a grudge against the clerk who wouldn't sell alcohol to an inebriated roommate of Donohoe's a few minutes prior to his senseless killing.

Judge Kingsbury talked eloquently about the overflowing effect of this homicide; Manpreet's family will never experience the joys of watching Manpreet grow up, have babies, have a career, and, for them, this horrific murder has forever changed their lives for the worse.

District Attorney Vern Pierson and Deputy District Attorney Kassie Cardullo argued for the maximum sentence of 50 years to life. South Lake Tahoe Police Detectives and FBI Agents filled the audience, as they worked tirelessly along with the District Attorney's Office to achieve justice for Manpreet.

"There is no sentence that will bring Manpreet back or heal the wounds created by Mr. Donohoe when he decided to take Manpreet's life. But, we are hopeful that his conviction and life sentence will bring at least some peace to his family and the community," said the DA's office.