Haegan Sagers, a 17-year-old Utah resident, was sentenced to a term of two to 15 years in a juvenile detention center and prison on July 15. This sentence comes after Sagers admitted to fatally shooting his 14-year-old stepbrother, Malaki Porter, in September 2024. At the time of the incident, Sagers was 16 years old. Initially charged with murder as an adult, Sagers later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Stormi Hass, the mother of the deceased, spoke at the sentencing. She stated that both her son and stepson were brought up in a household that emphasized the importance of gun safety. Hass was the live-in partner of Sagers’ father, and Porter was part of their blended family. Hass expressed her grief in court, stating that she lost both her children on the day of the shooting. Despite her loss, she insisted that Sagers face the consequences of his actions.
Hass also told the court that Sagers had expressed his intention to harm Malaki, fully aware of the potential damage a firearm could cause. Despite this, prosecutors did not believe that Porter’s death was premeditated. They did, however, present evidence suggesting that Sagers had shown a tendency towards violent problem-solving and had expressed a desire to harm Porter in the days leading up to the fatal incident.
Sagers’ account of the events leading up to the shooting changed during the course of the investigation. Initially, he claimed that Porter had attacked him with the gun, which accidentally discharged during the ensuing struggle. Later, he stated that he had taken the gun from Porter and, fearing for his safety, pointed it at Porter’s left shoulder with the intention to injure, but not kill him.
In court, Sagers expressed remorse for his actions, apologizing for killing Porter. He stated, “If I could say anything to Malaki, it would be how sorry I am, and how we should have talked through our problems. Although he and I had our issues, he was a great friend and the best little brother you could ask for. I am very sorry.”