Man gets life in prison after girl was shot to death

Another, who denies knowing of plan, might get out in three months

RALEIGH -- Gelnirys Ortega wanted to be a model or a ballerina. She thought moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic was the best way to reach that dream.

Now her mother, Milagros Ortega, wishes she had never allowed Gelnirys to come here. The West Millbrook Middle School student was killed in May 2007 when a man rushed into the family's Green Road apartment looking for a man who owed money for drugs.

"I worked and struggled for her, only to lose her in the hands of those evil people," Ortega wrote in a letter that was read in court Thursday.

Gelnirys died when a bullet struck her in the right eye as she sat on the couch when a man rushed in and began firing as part of a home invasion that others were in on. Milagros Ortega also was injured by one of the shots.

In a Wake County courtroom Thursday, two men were held accountable for the attack. Rashaan Ali, thought to be a shooter, learned he'd be spending the rest of his life in prison. Ian Wattley could spend as little as three more months locked up, after he was given credit for a year he spent in jail awaiting trial.

The group of men had been looking to collect money from a man who was visiting the Ortega family's apartment.

Ali and Wattley were convicted last week by a Wake jury. Ali, 36, of New Jersey, was found guilty of first-degree murder, while Wattley, 33, of Raleigh, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Wattley, who had no criminal record, was just along for the ride that night and didn't know about the plan to raid the apartment, according to his defense attorney.

Both men were given an opportunity to say something in court Thursday, but they declined.

Milagros Ortega left the Dominican Republic in 2002, and her daughter begged to join her in Raleigh.

After moving here two years ago, Gelnirys quickly learned English and became a vibrant part of her friends' lives. Her favorite doll was Hello Kitty, and her favorite color was blue. She liked to wear tennis shoes, took ballet lessons and helped take care of her little brother, Yandel, now 3.

Gelnirys' clothes, jewelry and books remain with her mother.

"I often think that one day she will come back to us," Milagros Ortega wrote. "I know I'm never going to come to terms with what happened."

She said she's suffered from a deep depression since the slaying. At times, she wishes she'd been killed that day as well.

After the two men had been sentenced and taken out of the courtroom, Visiting Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour turned to Ortega.

"You do have a reason to live," Baddour told her. "Live your life for your son, take care of him."

Ortega nodded, as she wiped tears away from her face.

Four other men are still facing charges in connection with Gelnirys' killing.