PUNTA GORDA — A man convicted of fatally shooting his neighbor was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday.
James Gainvors, 36, received his sentence at the Charlotte County Justice Center from Circuit Judge Lisa Porter, following his manslaughter conviction last month.
Deputies arrested Gainvors in July 2023, following two weeks of investigation into the death of 39-year-old Matt Hanson.
On July 5, according to witnesses, Gainvors began arguing with Hanson about a firework that landed in the former’s yard on Corrine Avenue on the night of the Fourth of July.
During the course of the argument, Gainvors retreated into his home and emerged with a pistol in his hand. He then fired the weapon at Hanson, who was struck by a bullet and later died from his injuries.
Hanson’s family initially criticized CCSO deputies for not taking Gainvors into custody the day of the shooting.
Prosecutors said during his December trial that Gainvors was just 20 feet from Hanson, who was on his own property across the street, when he fired the gun.