After nearly four years, the case of the murder of a four-year-old Struthers boy has come to a close.

Twenty-one-year-old Brandon Crump, who a jury found to be the triggerman in the deadly home invasion that claimed the life of Rowan Sweeney back in September of 2020 was sentenced to 52 to 53 and a half years to life in prison.

Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova recommended the much harsher sentence of 89 to 94 years to life in prison, and Crump's attorney Lou DeFabio recommended the much lighter sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Judge Anthony D'Apolito said if there was any case to give the sentence of life without parole, this would be the one to do it. However, Ohio law would prevent him from giving that sentence since Crump was a juvenile at the time of the murder.

Crump was sentenced on several counts including aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary, robbery, escape and conspiracy along with several three-year firearm specifications.

Crump is the last of three men to be handed his sentence with Andre McCoy being handed a 15-year-to-life prison sentence and Kimonie Bryant being handed a 20-year-to-life sentence.

During the sentencing, DeGenova stated while Crump did have a rough childhood, others have also had traumatic childhoods without ever murdering anyone.

"[Crump] is not the only young person in America who grew up under these circumstances. Others like [Crump] may have experienced trauma in their youths, yet these others do not execute four-year-olds asleep on their mother's lap and unload a firearm into a living room full of people for a measly $5,000," DeGenova said.

Judge D'Apolito took Crump's troubled childhood, which was documented in a report from a doctor, into consideration during the sentence ultimately handing down 52 to 53 and a half years to life in prison.

Rowan's parents appeared once more to deliver their third and final impact statements. 

Rowan's father David Sweeney started off with a similar impact statement to the ones he gave during McCoy and Bryant's sentencing hearings, but soon grilled Crump in a more personal statement letting him know what's in store for him in prison.

"You hid behind your gun and terrorized people, but you won't be able to do that in prison. You'll be with real grown men, many that don't tolerate child murderers. For the rest of your life, you'll be told when to eat, sleep and shower all while being confined to a small space as you should be," David said.

David went on to say it's an "absolute embarrassment" that Crump is not eligible for the death penalty because he was just a few months shy of turning 18 at the time of the murder.

"I was a bonehead 17-year-old before. I did my fair share of stupid stuff. But never would have done what you have. Nobody would," David said.

Rowan's mother Alexis Schneider also took the stand with a statement of her own calling Crump "weak" and "a coward" asking him why he felt the need to kill a four-year-old boy over $5,000 dollars.

"I begged you to not take my son's life. He didn't even know you were there. But yet you still decided to put two bullets into his head. Then to find out that you're 'a father' to a child yourself, how did you look at my son who is small in stature like your child and feel the need to pull the trigger" Schneider said.

Crump did not address the court or Sweeney's family during the hearing.

“No sentence given could ever have been enough,” David Sweeney said. “It doesn’t change the fact of what happened but I think the judge did a great job given the fact that his hands were tied under this ridiculous Ohio law protecting these juveniles.

David said they will keep their non-profit going to honor Rowan's life and will work to change the law that protects minors from being sentenced to life in prison.

The murder took place early in the morning in September of 2020 after McCoy had coordinated a robbery after victim Yarnell Green showed off COVID-19 relief money he had received.

From there, Bryant got Crump involved with a jury finding that he pulled the trigger killing Rowan and wounding several others in the home including McCoy.