BAY MINETTE, Alabama – Benjamin Kirby Blackman, 27, of Fairhope, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for the 2010 shooting death of Frisco City resident Thomas “T.J.” Perkins.

Blackman was found guilty by a Baldwin County jury in May.

Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney Michaelyn Gober, who prosecuted the case along with ADA Patrick Prendergast, said that eye-witnesses saw Blackman calmly walk through a crowd of people, raise a semi-automatic handgun and shoot Perkins in the back of the head.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued that Blackman deserved a life sentence for this unprovoked, execution-style murder.

“We are disappointed that Blackman did not receive a life sentence, but pleased that the family is finally able to put this part of the healing process behind them,” District Attorney Hallie Dixon said. “I commend the prosecutors, Fairhope Police Department and Baldwin County jurors for their hard work and efforts in bringing about a degree of closure to the family of T.J. Perkins.”