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Man sentenced to life without parole for murder of rapper Lil Phat

Three men were sentenced in Fulton County Friday in the murder case of a rapper gunned down in an Atlanta parking lot last year.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Deandre Washington was sentenced to life without parole plus 20 years to serve for the murder of Melvin Vernell III, also known as Lil Phat.

Washington was charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, participating in gang activity, conspiracy to commit a crime, and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Maurice Conner was sentenced to 30 years for participation in criminal street gang activity, conspiracy to commit a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Gary Bradford was sentenced to 25 years for participating in criminal street gang activity and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The shooting happened June 7, 2012, in a parking ramp at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.

"I termed it an assassination," District Attorney Paul Howard said in 2013.

Prosecutors said the hip-hop artist was sitting in an Audi A7 when he was shot repeatedly.

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