FRESNO, Calif. – Brian Cooks, the man who was previously convicted of the killing of nine-year-old Janessa Ramirez, had his sentence reduced by several years after a recent court hearing. Cooks, who was initially sentenced to 21 years in prison for the manslaughter of Janessa Ramirez, petitioned for a re-sentencing under a new California law six years after his conviction.
During a hearing at the Fresno County Courthouse, family members of the young victim emotionally addressed Brian Cooks, expressing their grief and pain over the tragic loss of Janessa. The incident took place in January 2015 when Cooks, firing a gun at a rival gang member, accidentally struck and killed Janessa, who was standing with her mother in front of a laundromat in West Central Fresno.
Following a recent petition under a California law that allows certain individuals convicted of aiding or abetting attempted murder, or those charged with murder but convicted of manslaughter, to request re-sentencing, Cooks’s case was brought back to court. Despite his initial conviction in 2018 and a 21-year jail sentence, Cooks ultimately agreed to withdraw his petition during the recent court proceedings.
As a result, the court decided to strike down a five-year prior enhancement, leading to a reduction in Cooks’s sentence from 21 years to 16 years. Family members of Brian Cooks, speaking to reporters after the hearing, expressed remorse and offered apologies to Janessa Ramirez’s family, acknowledging the irreversibility of their loss.
In addition to the reduced sentence, Cooks was also ordered to pay restitution to Janessa’s family. Cooks had previously claimed that the shooting was accidental and related to self-defense, a statement that remained consistent throughout the legal proceedings. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement regarding Cooks’s resentencing, describing the impact of the tragic incident on the community and the subsequent legislative changes in criminal sentencing.
The resentencing of Brian Cooks under Senate Bill 1437, which provides a pathway for individuals convicted of certain offenses to petition for reduced sentences, has reopened wounds for Janessa’s family and raised concerns about the impact of legislative reforms on criminal justice systems. The case continues to highlight the complexities and challenges surrounding victims of violent crimes and the pursuit of justice in the legal system.