Suspect in April 2020 double homicide sentenced to 50 years in prison

A 22-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison after he admitted to fatally shooting two people two years ago over stolen marijuana.

Ricky Clardy Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in exchange for two, 50-year prison sentences that will run concurrently.

Clardy is one of two people charged in the April 4, 2020, shooting deaths of 17-year-old Mia Altamirano and 20-year old Michael Bean at an apartment in the 2100 block of 49th Street. Two other people were injured in the shooting.

Malachi Gibson, 20, is also charged with two counts of murder, which carries a punishment of five years to life in prison. His case remains pending.

Prosecutor Barron Slack said the families of Bean and Altamirano were consulted about the plea deal and were satisfied with Clardy's punishment.

"It's effectively an unsurvivable sentence, is my opinion on it," he said. "We're happy to be able to resolve a case with such a strong sentence in an efficient way."

Clardy was represented by Lubbock attorney Justin Kiechler.

"Mr. Clardy expressed to me that he understands no words can undo his actions, which took the lives of two young individuals," Kiechler said. "He truly sends his deepest apologies to the loved ones of the victims affected by his horrible actions. He stood in court today with remorse and accepted his lengthy sentence without hesitation; he accepts the truth that his actions devastated two families."

Investigators believe the shootings were in retaliation for a drug robbery Bean and Altamirano were involved in earlier that day.

Clardy and Gibson reportedly matched the description witnesses and other victims gave of the two men who approached the front door of the apartment and tried breaking it down.

The pair confronted the four victims at the door and an argument erupted during which Clardy fired multiple rounds from a pistol, striking the four victims.

Clardy and Gibson drove away before police arrived.

Investigators spoke with Clardy who said he was at his house in the 2100 block of 30th Street with Gibson the night of the shooting. He said he never left his house and took a Xanax pill and was asleep that night. However, investigators saw Clardy appeared to have made Facebook posts during the times he said he was asleep.

Investigators spoke with a man who said he was at Clardy's house giving him a tattoo. The witness said Gibson received a phone call about a friend being robbed of marijuana. He said Clardy and Gibson became angry and left the house.

Another witness confirmed the account.

Gibson reportedly spoke with investigators and initially said he was with another person the entire night. However, he admitted to lying after police searched his phone and found messages that contradicted his earlier statement.

He also reportedly admitted to getting the phone call about the robbery, saying learning about it made him mad.

The two were arrested four days later and were booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Suspect in April 2020 double homicide sentenced to 50 years