Two men who killed a 32-year-old while street racing in the West Valley were sentenced last week to seven years in prison, authorities announced Monday.
Jakari Barksdale, 21, and Emanuel Cervantez, 21, were sentenced on Friday for the tragic street race that took place in May 2021, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Both were 17 years old at the time the incident occurred; they were prosecuted as adults.
Barksdale pleaded guilty to both manslaughter and aggravated assault. Cervantez pleaded guilty to manslaughter and abandoning the scene of a tragic collision.
Details on the fatal street race
Barksdale and Cervantez were racing down S. Avondale Boulevard near W. Broadway Road at speeds over 100 mph when Barksdale’s BMW crashed with a Ford F-150 turning through the junction.
The hit broke the vehicle in two, killing the 32-year-old driver instantaneously.
Investigations found that the race was pre-planned via text messaging. Bystanders also recorded it.
The cell phone video and witnesses corroborated that Barksdale’s BMW and Cervantez’s Dodge Charger were racing side by side when they crashed with the truck. Cervantez narrowly escaped the collision before fleeing the area.
“This wasn’t a tragic accident — it was the direct result of reckless choices and a complete disregard for human life,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the announcement.
“This case is a stark reminder that street racing is not a game; it’s a crime with deadly consequences.”