ORLANDO, Fla. — A young man is sentenced to five years in jail for the death of an 18-year-old high school senior. He apologized for his actions in court but the victim's mother believes it is too late.

  • Giovanni Gordono sentenced for 5 years in jail
  • Laura Cuartas was shot dead at her best friend's house

Lina Cuartas stood in court one last time as she faced the young man who was convicted of taking the life of her 18-year-old daughter.

"She was my only child," the mother said in court.

Lina Cuartas wants to keep the memory of Laura Cuartas alive. She left her bedroom exactly the way it was before she was killed. Laura Cuartas was shot to death at her best friend's house on Bellsworth Way in Orlando on March 30, 2017.

The 18-year-old man charged with her death is the brother of her best friend, Giovanni Gordono. Lina Cuartas said at first Gordono claimed Laura shot herself but his story changed several times.

Most recently, Gordono said he was holding a gun and dancing when it fired and hit Laura Cuartas.

"I didn't mean to do anything, I didn't mean to take your daughter away," Gordono said in court. "I am really sorry for everything."

Lina Cuartas said her daughter used to work for Universal Studios, and was the president of Best Buddies at her high school. Her dream was to become a teacher for children with special needs.

"She's everything to me. She was everything," Lina Cuartas explained.

Gordono entered a plea deal that will require him to serve five years at the Department of Corrections followed by seven years of supervised probation.

However, for Lina Cuartas that is far from justice.

"That's not enough. He took everything I had away from me … my daughter," she added.